Cycling: Indurain takes home Giro

MIGUEL INDURAIN registered a repeat Giro d'Italia win yesterday and can now become the first rider to complete the Giro-Tour de France double in successive years. 'I'm very happy to be taking the Giro home with me again,' he said.

Indurain had no difficulty in preserving his 58sec lead over the Latvian Piotre Ugrumov in the 174km, 21st and final stage from Biella to Milan. 'Now I must start thinking about the Tour,' said the single-minded Indurain, who was in a subdued mood despite the win.

The Banesto team leader, who next month will seek a third consecutive Tour de France victory, survived one late threat when Ugrumov, producing his best performance in a major race, clawed back 36sec on the tough climb to the finish of Saturday's stage.

The Italian Claudio Chiappucci, second in the last two years, finished third this time, more than five minutes behind Indurain while fellow countryman Fabio Baldato celebrated his 25th birthday by winning the closing section, his third stage victory.

Results, Sporting Digest, page 29