The following five stages took the riders through the Alps.
The first of these, stage 15, was an individual time trial to the ski station at Orcières-Merlette.
Induráin set an early standard with a time of 1:11:25 hours, only to be outdone six minutes later by Rooks, who improved on Induráin's time by 43 seconds.
Theunisse was fastest up the second of the two climbs of the course, gathering more points in the mountains classification to move clear of rival Millar.
Of the true contenders for the overall victory, Delgado set the fastest times at all the check points, but slowed on the last climb to eventually finish the stage fourth, 48 seconds down on Rooks.
He attributed his time loss to a worsening callus that would influence him for the remainder of the race.
Behind Rooks, Marino Lejarreta (Paternina) was second fastest, moving into the top five overall.
LeMond meanwhile took back the yellow jersey from Fignon, finishing fifth on the stage, just nine seconds slower than Delgado.
His advantage over Fignon at this stage was 40 seconds.

The day after the second rest day, on the stage from Gap to Briançon, the riders faced the climbs of the Col de Vars and the Col d'Izoard.
On the first of these climbs, Fignon and Mottet dropped back from the group of favourites, while LeMond stayed close to Delgado.
Fignon and Mottet got back to the group on the descent, only for Delgado to attack on the climb of the Izoard.
He was joined by LeMond, Theunisse and Mottet, while Fignon fell back once again.
LeMond attacked after the descent, but on the slightly rising road towards the finish, Delgado made contact again to finish within the same time.
Fignon meanwhile lost 13 seconds on LeMond.
The two were now separated by 53 seconds in the general classification, the widest the margin would be the entire Tour.
Up ahead, Pascal Richard (Helvetia–La Suisse) won the stage from a breakaway.

Stage 17, which finished at Alpe d'Huez, one of the most famous climbs in cycling, was expected to be the decisive part of the race overall.
Theunisse, wearing the polka-dot jersey as leader of the mountains classification, attacked on the first climb, the Col du Galibier.
He was joined by two more riders, Franco Vona (Chateau d'Ax) and Laurent Biondi (Fagor–MBK) before the ascent of the Col de la Croix de Fer, but rode away from his breakaway companions before he reached the summit.
At Le Bourg-d'Oisans, the village before the climb to Alpe d'Huez starts, he led the group of favourites by more than four minutes and held on to win the stage by over a minute.
Behind him, the battle for the yellow jersey intensified.
Fignon, LeMond and Delgado entered the climb together and Fignon instantly attacked at the first hairpin bend.
LeMond stuck to his wheel, but Guimard, knowing LeMond well from their days together at the Renault team, saw that he was struggling.
He drew his team car level with Fignon and ordered him to attack again with 4 km (2.5 mi) to go to the finish line.
LeMond fell back and only Delgado was able to keep up with Fignon.
The two reached the finish together, 1:19 minutes ahead of LeMond.
Fignon thus regained the yellow jersey, with an advantage of 26 seconds over LeMond.

The following stage to Villard-de-Lans featured a breakaway, including previous stage winners Millar and Richard.
They were brought back once the race reached the Côte de Saint-Nizier climb, with only Herrera left ahead of the peloton.
As the field made contact with Herrera, Fignon attacked.
LeMond, Delgado and Theunisse followed him but unwillingness to work together allowed Fignon to extend his advantage.
He passed the summit of the climb 15 seconds clear of his pursuers and in the valley behind, a group containing Alcalá and Kelly caught up to the three chasers.
Fignon started the final 3 km (1.9 mi) climb up to the finish with a margin of 45 seconds.
He took the stage win, but his advantage was reduced to 24 seconds by the time LeMond crossed the line, meaning that the difference between the two was now 50 seconds in the overall standings.

Stage 19 was the last one in the A
The following five stages took the riders through the Alps. The first of these, stage 15, was an individual time trial to the ski station at Orcières-Merlette. Induráin set an early standard with a time of 1:11:25 hours, only to be outdone six minutes later by Rooks, who improved on Induráin's time by 43 seconds. Theunisse was fastest up the second of the two climbs of the course, gathering more points in the mountains classification to move clear of rival Millar. Of the true contenders for the overall victory, Delgado set the fastest times at all the check points, but slowed on the last climb to eventually finish the stage fourth, 48 seconds down on Rooks. He attributed his time loss to a worsening callus that would influence him for the remainder of the race. Behind Rooks, Marino Lejarreta (Paternina) was second fastest, moving into the top five overall. LeMond meanwhile took back the yellow jersey from Fignon, finishing fifth on the stage, just nine seconds slower than Delgado. His advantage over Fignon at this stage was 40 seconds.
The day after the second rest day, on the stage from Gap to Briançon, the riders faced the climbs of the Col de Vars and the Col d'Izoard. On the first of these climbs, Fignon and Mottet dropped back from the group of favourites, while LeMond stayed close to Delgado. Fignon and Mottet got back to the group on the descent, only for Delgado to attack on the climb of the Izoard. He was joined by LeMond, Theunisse and Mottet, while Fignon fell back once again. LeMond attacked after the descent, but on the slightly rising road towards the finish, Delgado made contact again to finish within the same time. Fignon meanwhile lost 13 seconds on LeMond. The two were now separated by 53 seconds in the general classification, the widest the margin would be the entire Tour. Up ahead, Pascal Richard (Helvetia–La Suisse) won the stage from a breakaway.
Stage 17, which finished at Alpe d'Huez, one of the most famous climbs in cycling, was expected to be the decisive part of the race overall. Theunisse, wearing the polka-dot jersey as leader of the mountains classification, attacked on the first climb, the Col du Galibier. He was joined by two more riders, Franco Vona (Chateau d'Ax) and Laurent Biondi (Fagor–MBK) before the ascent of the Col de la Croix de Fer, but rode away from his breakaway companions before he reached the summit. At Le Bourg-d'Oisans, the village before the climb to Alpe d'Huez starts, he led the group of favourites by more than four minutes and held on to win the stage by over a minute. Behind him, the battle for the yellow jersey intensified. Fignon, LeMond and Delgado entered the climb together and Fignon instantly attacked at the first hairpin bend. LeMond stuck to his wheel, but Guimard, knowing LeMond well from their days together at the Renault team, saw that he was struggling. He drew his team car level with Fignon and ordered him to attack again with 4 km (2.5 mi) to go to the finish line. LeMond fell back and only Delgado was able to keep up with Fignon. The two reached the finish together, 1:19 minutes ahead of LeMond. Fignon thus regained the yellow jersey, with an advantage of 26 seconds over LeMond.
The following stage to Villard-de-Lans featured a breakaway, including previous stage winners Millar and Richard. They were brought back once the race reached the Côte de Saint-Nizier climb, with only Herrera left ahead of the peloton. As the field made contact with Herrera, Fignon attacked. LeMond, Delgado and Theunisse followed him but unwillingness to work together allowed Fignon to extend his advantage. He passed the summit of the climb 15 seconds clear of his pursuers and in the valley behind, a group containing Alcalá and Kelly caught up to the three chasers. Fignon started the final 3 km (1.9 mi) climb up to the finish with a margin of 45 seconds. He took the stage win, but his advantage was reduced to 24 seconds by the time LeMond crossed the line, meaning that the difference between the two was now 50 seconds in the overall standings.
Stage 19 was the last one in the A
1989 Tour de France