New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-24
FrancO-SWiss Team, in
Terrific Sprint, Laps
A1lCOntenderS
By FRED HAWTHORNE

While six thousand men and women
rosa in their seats and yelled IN
frenzy OF excitement, Oscar Egg ana
Marcel Dupuy, the Franco-Swiss cy-
cling team. gained lap on the en-
tire field Of riders AZ s:25 O'Clock
last night in the six-dsy race at Madi-
son Square Garden, and won the most
thrilling struggle ever seen IN the ola
building.
Although the race did not ofticiauy
end until II o'clock, at the completion
Of one hour Of mile sprints for points
on the Berlin system, Egg and Dupuy
had little to worry about All they
had TO do was 70 prevent the other
teams from regaining the lap and 70
finish in each of the sprints. They
alternated in the twenty sprints that
marked the final hour, finishing IN last
Mace in all except the last, wnen Egg
went out and won in wild dash for
the tape. =,
lust before 10 o'clock the big crowd
had its attention momentarily attracted
from the race by the appearance OF Les
Darcy. the Australian boxer. who was
introduced fro mthe track side by Pete
Prunty.
Darcy's name was cheered madly, ana
he stood on the track at the finish line
and bowed his Acknowledgements oil the
reception, wishin gall hands happy
happy Christmas"
Later Darcy found his way 10 the
nress stand and snook hands with the
Eggs. From the galleries came shouts
Of "Oh. you Les." and Darcy seemed
delighted.
Such a dramatic scene as followed
the winning OF the lap has never before
bcen enacted IN ali the years OF the
holding Of this rave. As Egg. who be-
gan and finished the sprint, passed I'd
die Madden the last q the riders 10
succumb 10 the terrlnc sprint oil the
foreign team the thousands or spec
tators who had crowded into the Car
den let forth mighty roar OF acclaim.
They had been standing on their
seats throughout the entire twelve laps
that the sprint lasted. When Egg Grew
level with the only man who had nov
been Tapped not only dignity but hats
overcoats and furs were tossed INTO 'he
air.
continual ovation greeted Egg and
Dupuy as they circled slowly about on
the fat after their great dasn 10 VIC
tory. Just before the fnish OF the
sprint, rounding the Twenty-seVentn,
Street and Fourth Avenue turn FREQ
Hill fell crashing TO the nat, ana pe-
baetes, Just behind, fell over MN.
The Belgian landed with stunning
force and remained fat and motionless
where he fell. Dr. Henry. the Garden
physician. and half a dozen trainers
worked over Debaetes for FIVE minutes
before he could be carried from the
track. Half an hour later the Belgian
was back in harness again.
Egg timed the winning sprint at pre-
cisely the psychological moment. five
minutes before his dash Grassy Ryan
had won a mile sprint for $40. I'm
mediately afterward Reggie Mcnamara,
sprinting at top speed for the last three
laps, won desperate battle Tor you
mile sprint.
Dupuy had made no effort in the first
sprint TO win the prize. Egg was also
content TO hang back in the second
dash.
A moment after Mcnamara had sat
IN in his saddle, a smile Of triumph on
his face, a red and white clad figure
ka rtfrk q the Madison
Avenue and Twenty sixth Street turn.
High up the bank rode Egg-for 1t was
the Swiss and then catapulted down
the incline at sensational speed. The
other riders, still led by Mcnamara,
we're taken utterly by surprise, and, In
addition, we're we'll tagged BY their
previous efforts.
In one circuit Of the track Egg had
gained sixty yards on the field. he
kent I'D a desperate sprint for three
LAPS. when he led the pack by full
third of lap.
Dupuy To the Fore
Then it was Dupuy's turn. and he
made perfect pickup of his partner.
With powerful digs at his pedals ne
widened the gap foot By foot.
The other teams made constant
shifts in the effort TO hold the pace
set by the flying lap steslers. NC
Namara tried grimly to hang on put
his strength had been sspped by ms
great sprinting all the week and ne
was unequal to the task. spears ms
partner, was even weaker. and Reggie
eve him at the end OF two
laps.
Riding like a madman, Dupuy led by
full half lap before Egg again took
up the sprint. Dupuy came back
again a few moments later, this time
only third OF lap behind the pack.
On the las. relief Egg needed only
sixty yards to complete the lap. In
two more circuits ne had caught Mad
den. the last Of the pack TO yield. A
| Egg passed Eddie he raised his left
arm high above his head rounding the
Madison Avenue and Twenty-sevcnth
Street turn in token OF victory. Then
/ followed the picture OF wild celebra
/ ton and uproar of greeting.
For a minute following the gaining
of the lap the crowd was dumfound'
ed by the daring Of the SwissFrcnch
( team, but then the full significance
I burst upon them. and IL was remarked
! that it was the first time lap hao
ever been gained on the leaders a
An hour after this loss OF the laI
Freddie Hill and Root made dozen at
tempts TO regain the lap. being half ;
lap 70 the good at one time. But Egs
and Dupuy caught them, the pair ridini
/ az strongly as ever
/ At the start of the final hour o.
: sprinting Peter Prunty announced tina
Egg and Dupuy would have to fnisi
with the other five teams in each sprin.
but that they would be counted as fin
ishing first unless Tapped. This meant