CYCLING

CYCLING

The Tour de France will start one week earlier next year to allow professional riders to compete in the Atlanta Olympics. From next year, professional and amateur cyclists will compete in the same races, paving the way for professionals such as Miguel Indurain, Tony Rominger and Gianni Bugno to compete at the Olympics. The 1996 Tour will now be contested from 29 June-21 July. The Olympic time trial and road race are scheduled for 31 July and 3 August. The Giro d'Italia will be held from 18 May to 9 June, while the Tour of Spain is scheduled for 7-29 September. The world championship road event in Switzerland is set for 6 October.

Sergei Outschakov upset the treble chance of Switzerland's Pascal Richard as he gave Ukraine their first stage victory in the Giro d'Italia yesterday. The Swiss rider overhauled Outschakov one and a half miles from the mountain finish of the 127-mile 20th leg from Briancon to Gressoney, but within 300 yards of the line he was caught off guard. Outschakov sped through to put five seconds between himself and Richard, who had won two stages in six days.

GIRO D'ITALIA 20th stage (Briancon to Gressoney St Jean, 126 miles): 1 S Outschakov (Ukr) Polti 4hr 59min 58sec; 2 P Richard (Swit) Maglificio MG +5sec; 3 P Ugrumov (Lat) Gewiss Ballan +8; 4 E Berzin (Rus) Gewiss Ballan; 5 O Rincon (Col) ONCE both same time; 6 C Chiappucci (It) Carrera +26. Overall standings: 1 T Rominger (Swit) Mapei GB 89hr 01min 33sec; 2 Berzin +4min 50sec; 3 Ugrumov +4:55; 4 Chiappucci +9:35; 5 Rincon +10:03; 6 P Tonkov (Rus) Lampre +11:31.