Tour Winner Again

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32354, 21 July 1970, Page 17

Tour Winner Again

(N.Z P. A -Reuter—Copyright) PARIS. A Belgian, E. Merckx, crushed all opposition to win the Tour of France cycle race for the second time in two years. Merckx won by almost 13min from J. Zoetemelk (Netherlands) and over a quarter of an hour clear of G. Petterson (Sweden) who was in third place. The 25-year-old Belgian had an astounding win in the last stage of the 23-day tour—a 33.5-mile time trial from Versailles to the Vincennes velodrome.

He finished the stage In Ihr 9min 39sec, which was Imin 47sec faster than the second man, L. Ocana (Spain). Merckx’s win made him only the third man in cycling history to have won the Tour of Italy and the Tour of France in the same season. The feat was done twice by an Italian. F. Coppi, 1949 and 1952, and once by a Frenchman, J. Anquetil, in 1964. His final-stage win was the eighth of the tour, equalling a record that has stood since 1937 to a Frenchman, G. Lapebie. Merckx also share in the win by the Ititf ian-backed, Faemino in the team trial stage. Merckx said after the race

that the last stage had been particularly dangerous because of the numerous sharp bends and the often wet road. “I was trembling at the start because I was so worried,” he said. “I was frightened of falling—frightened of losing." It was perhaps this fear which forced him into such an amazing performance in the last leg in which he passed

Zoetemelk, who had started 2min 30sec ahead of him. Final over-all placings: E. Merckx (Belgium), 119:31:49, 1; J. Zoetemelk (Netherlands), 119:44:40, 2; G. Petterson (Sweden), 119:47:43, 3; M. van den Bossche (Belgium), 119:50:42, 4; R. Wagtmans (Netherlands), 119:51:44, 5; L. van Impe (Belgium), 119:52:23, 6; R. Poulldor (France). 119:52:24, 7: A. Houbrechts (Belgium), 119:53:23, 8: F. Galdos (Spain), 119:53:34. 9; G. Plntens (Belgium). 119:55:12. 10.