1.
CU MOTTA (115) STARTS FROM VERSAILLES
0.12

2.
GV CROWD APPLAUD
0.14

3.
TV MOTTA FINISHES
0.23

4.
CU POULIDOR (27) STARTS
0.29

5.
SV TRACKING.... POULIDOR RACING
0.38

6.
CU CAR DRIVER
0.41

7.
SV GIMONDI (123) CROSSES HIMSELF AND STARTS (2 SHOTS)
0.53

8.
SV TRACKING... GIMONDI ALONG ROAD (2 SHOTS)
1.11

9.
TV GIMONDI FINISHES TO WIN
1.34

10.
SV MAN IN CROWD WAVES
1.35

11.
GV CROWD
1.38

12.
TV CROWD SURROUND GIMONDI
1.51

13.
GV CROWD
1.54

14.
SV THE FIRST THREE
1.59



Initials JT/RTF/RM/PN


SPORT: CYCLING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE TOUR DE FRANCE WAS WON TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY FELICE GIMONDI, A 23-YEAR-OLD ITALIAN RIDER COMPETING FOR THE FIRST TIME. SECOND AND THIRD WERE FRANCE'S RAYMOND POULIDOR AND ANOTHER ITALIAN, GIANNI MOTTA. TODAY'S FINAL STAGE WAS A TIME TRIAL FROM VERSAILLES TO PARIS, A DISTANCE OF 231/2 MILES (37.8 KMS).

THE FINAL STAGE BEGAN WITH GIMONDI HOLDING A 72-SECOND LEAD OVER POULIDOR, WITH MOTTA NEARLY NINE MINUTES AWAY IN THIRD OVERALL PLACING.

POULIDOR, THE FRENCH IDOL WHO WAS FAVOURITE TO WIN WHEN THE 2,595-MILE (4,177-KM) MARATHON BEGAN FROM COLOGNE THREE WEEKS AGO, WAS OUTRIDDEN TODAY. HE FINISHED TWO MINUTES 40 SECONDS BEHIND GIMONDI TO BECOME RUNNER-UP FOR THE SECOND SUCCESSIVE YEAR.

GIMONDI PUT IN A FAST FINISHING BURST OVER THIS THE 22ND AND FINAL STAGE. ALL EYES WERE ON THE YOUNG ITALIAN, WHOSE CHANCE TO RIDE IN THE RACE CAME ONLY 48 HOURS BEFORE IT STARTED WHEN INJURY FORCED OUT ANOTHER RIDER.

HE SPED IN TO THE PARC DES PRINCES STADIUM WITH THE WORLD'S MOST GRUELLING CYCLING RACE ALREADY SEWN UP. AMONG THE 40,000 CROWD WERE MANY ITALIANS, WHO MOBBED HIM. SOON AFTER GIMONDI WAS DECLARED WINNER, HE RECEIVED CABLED CONGRATULATIONS FROM PRESIDENT SARAGAT OF ITALY.