Belgian grabs second World Cup crown

Cycling

Belgium's Johan Museeuw sealed his second successive World Cup title by virtue of his nearest rival failing to win the event's last round, the Japan Cup road race in Utsunomiya.

Museeuw, the winner of the world road race title two weeks ago, finished 26th yesterday. Andrea Ferrigato, his closest rival on the circuit, finished one place ahead in 25th place. Before the 179.5km race, Museeuw had 162 World Cup points, 36 points ahead of Ferrigato and 38 clear of another Italian, Michele Bartoli. Fifty points awaited yesterday's winner, but Bartoli did not contest the deciding race.