BOURGES, Oct 18 — Albert Bourlon, who holds the record for the longest ever breakaway in the Tour de France, has died at the age of 96, his family announced yesterday.
Born on November 23, 1916, he lined up in his first Tour in 1938.
After the race resumed following World War II Bourlon created Tour history with a 253 kilometre stage-winning break between Carcassonne and Luchon on July 11, 1947.
During WW2 he was captured and then escaped to Romania where in 1944 he won the Bucharest-Ploesti-Bucharest classic.
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Bourlon died at Bourges, where the velodrome is named in his honour, on Wednesday. — AFP
