Cycling: Boardman must wait

CHRIS BOARDMAN is odds-on to contest his first Tour de France. However, after an impressive showing in the Dauphine Libere eight- day race he must wait until next week for confirmation of a place in the GAN team.

''Nothing has been confirmed, but this was one of the main selection races, and I did very well. It was more than I was hoping for,' Boardman said.

'It was my first experience of racing over mountains, but I was able to climb with the front group. of riders. Then, mainly through lack of experience, I blew up at the foot of another climb.

'If I am selected I am going for the prologue time trial at Lille.' Boardman specialises in racing against the clock.

The Tour de France is the first of three major objectives for Boardman. He also wants to win the new world title, the individual 45km road time trial, and add the world 4,000m pursuit track title to his Olympic gold medal.