START AT ANGERS; VARIOUS SHOTS OF RIDERS; RIDERS ENTERING STADIUM AT ST. MALO; GODEFROOT




Initials JSU/VS/MR/MM



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Background: WALTER GODEFROOT, OF BELGIUM, YESTERDAY (FRIDAY) WON THE FIRST ROAD STAGE OF THE TOUR DE FRANCE CYCLE RACE -- 185.5 KILOMETRES (115 MILES) FROM ANGERS TO ST. MALO. THE TOUR STARTED ON THURSDAY (29 JUNE) WITH A TIME TRIAL.

GODEFROOT AND GERSEN KARSTENS, OF HOLLAND, FLASHED OVER THE LINE TOGETHER AND MOST PEOPLE NEARBY THOUGHT KARSTENS HAD WON. BUT OFFICIALS GAVE THE VERDICT TO GODEFROOT AFTER EXAMINING A PHOTOGRAPH. GODEFROOT WAS GIVEN A TIME TWO SECONDS FASTER THAN KARSTENS.

THE YELLOW JERSEY OF OVERALL LEADER WAS RETAINED BY THE SPANIARD. JOSE-MARIA ERRANDONEA, WHO WON THE SHORT TIME TRIAL IN ANGERS ON THURSDAY NIGHT.

KARSTENS IS SECOND OVERALL, AND WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE LEAD IF HE HAD GOT THE DECISION IN THE SPRINT FINISH. IT COST HIM TEN SECONDS -- THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TIME BONUS TO THE WINNER AND THE SECOND.

DURING THE NEXT THREE WEEKS FRANCE AND A LARGE PART OF EUROPE WILL BE GRIPPED BY THE ANNUAL FEVER OF THE TOUR IN WHICH 130 COMPETITORS ARE TAKING PART. THE RACE ENDS IN PARIS ON 23 JULY AFTER COVERING 4,800 KILOMETRES (3,000 MILES) IN 22 STAGES.