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BRUSSELS — Belgian cyclist Herman Vanspringel, who lost the 1968 Tour de France on the final day and became famously known as Monsieur Bordeaux-Paris for winning the marathon classic 7 times, has died. He was 79. Tour de France organizers confirmed the death in a tribute to the sweet-tempered rider known as much for his close finishes as his victories. He entered the concluding Tour time trial in 1968 with a 16-second lead over Jan Janssen only for the Dutchman to overtake him in the final kilometers to win the yellow jersey.
