TOUR TO SUPPORT RIDER

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31113, 16 July 1966, Page 17

TOUR TO SUPPORT RIDER

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter— Copyright) PARIS. Lucien Aimar, a 25-year-old Frenchman who started the race as a support rider, has won the Tour de France marathon by just over a minute. Aimar’s only serious rivals, J. Janssen (Holland) and R. Poulidor (France) both outpaced him in a final time trial, but Aimar never looked

in danger of surrendering the race leader’s yellow jersey. Janssen took second place and the luckless Poulidor, runner-up for the last two years, finished third. An all-ticket crowd of 4000 at the Parc Des Princes Stadium in Paris gave Aimar a tremendous ovation as he crossed the finishing line. Aimar began it with a lead of Imin 35sec over Janssen and an advantage of 4min 22 sec over Poulidor. The highest placed riders among the 82 survivors in the tour set off last as riders raced only

against the clock, so Aimar was at the back of the field. By the half-distance, it was clear Aimar was going fast enough to hold on to his lead. The last three weeks have changed Aimar’s life. He is in only his second season as a professional and began the tour as a support rider for the five times winner, Jacques Anquetil, who abandoned earlier this week with a chill. Aimar’s victory guarantees him an income of £20,000 in the next 12 months from advertising and start money. Nino Denti, a 21-year-old

Italian, held on to win the 12-stage Tour de L’Avenir.

The Italian had seen his commanding lead whittled down almost to nothing in the last few days, but he did not allow his challengers to get any closer on the final stage from Orleans to the Parc Des Princes Stadium. Denti beat Steevens (Holland) by 78sec after 1200 miles of racing. The Avenir, junior version of the Tour de France, is one of the most severe testing grounds for future professionals.