POULIDOR AND KUNDE BATTLING FOR LEAD, ANQUETIL CHALLENGING, EARLY TOUR CRASHES EN MASSE AND CYCLISTS BUNCHED.




Initials JRG/R/BHH/OS


SPORT: CYCLING

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Background: THE FRENCH FAVOURITE RAYMOND POULIDOR YESTERDAY (TUESDAY) WON THE SECOND HALF STAGE OF THE 14TH STAGE OF THE TOUR DE FRANCE. THEREBY HE FULFILLED HIS EXPECTED BID TO IMPROVE HIS POSITION IN THE 20-KILOMETRE (12 1/2 MILES) TIME TRIAL. WEST GERMANY'S KARL-EINZ KUNDE RETAINED THE YELLOW JERSEY OF THE TOUR'S OVERALL LEADER.

THE WIN WAS A VALUABLE BOOST TO POULIDOR. LIKE HIS COMPATRIOT AND RIVAL JACQUES ANQUETIL, HE HAS SO FAR DONE LITTLE TO CRACK THE UNEXPECTED CHALLENGE LAUNCHED BY KUNDE, JEAN CLAUDE LEBAUBE OF FRANCE AND ITALY'S MARCELLO MUGNAINI.

DURING THE STAGE, FROM MONTPELLIER THROUGH AUBENAS AND TO VALS LES BAINS, THERE WAS A MASS PILE UP OF CYCLIST BUT NOBODY WAS SERIOUSLY HURT.