1.
GV of starting point
0.04

2.
SV Cyclists inside rest room on mattresses
0.08

3.
SIDE V..Cyclist reads paper
0.12

4.
FV. Cyclist having leg massaged
0.16

5.
LV TOWARDS..Michel Vermeulin of France starts off
0.21

6.
SV Timekeeper
0.24

7.
SV Simpson, No 107, GB., ready to start
0.27

8.
CU Of Simpson
0.29

9.
SV TOWARDS AND PAN TO BV..Simpson away
0.36

10.
CU Timekeeper and cyclist away
0.40

11.
SV Crowd watch
0.41

12.
SV Robinson, No. 125, GB., ready to start.
0.45

13.
LV Robinson towards.. PAN TO BV..
0.54



Initials PC/S/JH/ES


SPORT: CYCLING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Italian cyclist, Gastone Nencini, was still the overall leader in the Tour de France cycle race, July 15, as contestants arrived and rested at Pontarlier before the start of the 19th stage over a mountainous route to Besancon.

After the 142-mile Besancon to Troyes stage, July 16, Nencini was still in the lead with an aggregate time of 101 hours, 54 minutes, 45 secs. Britain's foremost rider, B. Robinson, was still in 26th place and was just under an hour behind the leader. His aggregate time was 101 hours, 54 minutes, 37 secs. T. Simpson, the only other British rider in the race, was 29th.

With only one more stage to go before reaching Paris, Nencini was five minutes ahead in the 2,590-mile marathon race. Another Italian, Graziano Battistini was in second place.

Nencini had not won any stage in the Tour so far but had scored many seconds and thirds, relying on consistency, rather than occasional brilliance, to win.