Famous French Bike Classic
Late-night start, next-day finish in Paris 18 hours later
[Music] At Bordeaux, France, a torch light parade starts contestants off on the great classic of continental bicycling. The cross-country race from Bordeaux to Paris. The race starts late at night and runs into the next day. A great test of physical endurance over a distance of 372 miles. the highways and streets are cleared in advance as the racers approach and whole cities turn out to see them pass. News rail cameramen, reporters, and even radio broadcasters follow the racers on motorcycles, cars, and trucks. It’s one of France’s most popular sporting events. The contestants don’t even stop to eat. They’re handed food from trucks and eat as they [Music] ride. The leaders reach the outskirts of Paris and wind up the race on a stadium track. Jeff Summers, the Belgian winner, maintained an average speed of over 20 m an hour for 18 hours. Seemed a little tired. [Music]