1998 Tour de France
1998 Tour de France[edit | edit source]
The 1998 Tour de France was the 85th edition of the Tour de France, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It took place from July 11 to August 2, 1998, and consisted of 21 stages over a total distance of 3,875 km (2,408 mi). The race is notable for the Festina affair, a major doping scandal that overshadowed the event.
Overview[edit | edit source]
The 1998 Tour de France began in Dublin, Ireland, marking the first time the race started outside mainland Europe. The race included a prologue and 20 stages, with a mix of flat, hilly, and mountainous terrain, as well as individual and team time trials.
The race was won by Marco Pantani of the Mercatone Uno team, who became the first Italian to win the Tour since Felice Gimondi in 1965. Pantani's victory was built on his exceptional climbing ability, particularly in the Alps and Pyrenees.
Key Stages[edit | edit source]
- **Stage 15**: This mountain stage from Grenoble to Les Deux Alpes was pivotal. Pantani attacked on the climb to the Col du Galibier, gaining significant time on his rivals, including the then-leader Jan Ullrich.
- **Stage 17**: The individual time trial from Meyrignac-l'Église to Corrèze was crucial for Pantani to maintain his lead.
The Festina Affair[edit | edit source]
The 1998 Tour is infamous for the Festina affair, a doping scandal that erupted when a team car belonging to the Festina team was found to contain large quantities of performance-enhancing drugs. This led to the expulsion of the entire Festina team and increased scrutiny on doping practices in professional cycling.
The scandal had far-reaching effects, leading to increased anti-doping measures and a crisis of confidence in the sport. Several riders and team officials were implicated, and the event cast a long shadow over the race.
Impact and Legacy[edit | edit source]
The 1998 Tour de France is often remembered more for the doping scandal than the sporting achievements. It marked a turning point in the fight against doping in cycling, leading to stricter regulations and testing procedures.
Despite the controversy, Marco Pantani's performance remains one of the most memorable in Tour history, showcasing his prowess as a climber.
Also see[edit | edit source]
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
