LAST LAP OF TOUR FROM OSTEND AND FINISH IN BRUSSELS.




Initials JRG/VS/MGT/SGM


SPORT: CYCLING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: VITTORIO ADORNI OF ITALY WON THE FOUR-DAY CYCLING OUR OF BELGIUM TODAY (THURSDAY) AFTER A TOUGH DUEL THROUGH THE SNOW AGAINST ROLF WOLFSHOHL OF GERMANY.

AT THE START OF THE LAST LAP FROM OSTEND, THE YOUNG BELGIAN, VICTOR VAN SCHIL, THE WINNER OF THE FIRST LAP, WAS A STILL HOLDING ONTO HIS LEADERSHIP IN THE TOUR. BUT THERE WAS PLENTY OF PRESSURE FROM THE INTERNATIONALLY - KNOWN RIDERS LIKE DEN HARTOG OF HOLLAND, THE WINNER OF THE SECOND LAP; AND THE FAST BELGIAN CHAMPION, GODEFROOT, WHO WON THE THIRD LAP TO OSTEND.

FINE PERFORMANCES WERE ALSO MADE BY THE FORMER WORLD CHAMPION JAN JANSEN OF HOLLAND, THE ITALIAN FANTINATO, THE BELGIANS BRACKE, DESMET AND VAN CONINGSLOO, THE SEAMUS ELLIOTT OF IRELAND.

THE LAST LAP TODAY TOOK PLACE IND RIVING SNOW. OF THE 88 STARTERS ONLY 27 FINISHED, MORE THAN AN HOUR BEHIND SCHEDULE. THE BUNCH REMAINED CLOSE TOGETHER FOR TWO-THIRDS OF THE LAP. THEN DIEGO RONCHINI OF ITALY AND WOLFSHOHL TOOK THE LEAD, BUT IT WAS ADORNI, WITH A MAGNIFICENT BURST, WHO TRIUMPHED, TO WIN THE LAP AND THE TOUR.

THE FOURTH AND FINAL LAP THROUGH GHENT TO BRUSSELS WAS OVER 116 MILES (187 KMS). ADORNI HAD A TOTAL TIME OF 21 HOURS AND 22 SECONDS. WOLFSHOHL FINISHED WITH 21 HOURS, ONE MINUTE AND 11 SECONDS.