(By "Sprinter.")

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 12, 16 July 1928, Page 9

(By "Sprinter.")

The Tour de France was commenced on 17th June and. finished yesterday, the whole journey covering 33"5 miles, during which the competitors encountered conditions far more severe than in any other cycling event in the world. One "eriod of the race was occupied in traversing the very high country of the Pyrenees Mountains, in which the competitors had to climb as high as 8000 ft. Other sections of the route, which took the competitors right round France, were also extremely trying in view of the steep grades. Apart altogether from the nature of the country, however,;there,were many other .difficulties in the way -of the Australians, and'the New Zealander competing in the race for the first time. Since the race, except when first staged, had never been won by a cyclist taking part for the first time, and in view of all tho other handicaps, little hope was held out that any members of tho AustraliaNew Zealand team would fill the maiiu places; indeed, it was generally recognised that if any of them were among the first twenty to finish they would be doing remarkably well.. Hubert Opperman, therefore, has fully lived up to his Australian roputation in coming right through the arduous test to finish 20 hours behind the winner in the aggregate time for the race. It is safe to say that with previous experience of the race the Australian champion would have been a much stronger contender for principal honours of the race. His fine performance for a newcomer is re- . cognised in the fact that he has already been offered an engagement by the manager of the winning team in this year's race to competo as a member of this team —the Alycon—next year.' Although no mention is made of the New, Zealander, Harry Watson, filling a place at the finish, there is every reason to believe that, barring accidents, he would not be far behind Opperman. Before the final stages were entered upon Watson had been keeping well up with Opperman. AH four members of the Aus-tralia-New Zealand team—H. Opperman, H. Watson, P. Osborne, and E. Bainbridg(i—were keen to complete the whole journey, and thus achieve the honour of being the only unbroken team to complete the course. The other teams had a big advantage in having more members and in being able to bring in fresh riders. Nicholas Frantz is the champion of Luxemburg, and he has had considerable experience of riding in the-Tour do France. He was runner-up'in 1924 and. again in 1926, and won the race last year. Le Ducq is the French champion, and was competing in the same team with Frantz. In last year's race Le Ducq won several stages and for the whole distance he was placed fourth.