Le Cleac'h leads Thomson as Vendee enters home stretch
French yachtsman Armel Le Cleac'h led his Welsh rival Alex Thomson by 214 nautical miles on Thursday, as the Vendee Globe enters its final week.
The epic solo round the world race is due to finish at Sables-les-Olonnes in record time on January 19.
A flotilla of 29 boats left the French Brittany port on November 6 for the start of the 21,638 nm (40,073 km) race around the three great Capes -- Good Hope, Leeuwin and the Horn.
But after 67 days at sea, the 2016/2017 edition of sailing's 'Everest' appears to be between long time leader Le Cleac'h, and Thomson.
Jeremie Beyou is lying third, but 800km behind.
Vendee Globe standings at 1700GMT
1. Armel Le Cléac'h (FRA/Banque populaire VIII) at 1927 nautical miles from the finish, 2. Alex Thomson (GBR/Hugo Boss) at 214.35 nm from the leader, 3. Jeremie Beyou (FRA/Maître CoQ) 798.04, 4. Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA/StMichel-Virbac) 1227.31, 5. Jean Le Cam (FRA/Finistère Mer Vent) 1345.35, 6. Yann Eliès (FRA/Quéguiner-Leucémie Espoir) 1357.37, 7. Louis Burton (FRA/Bureau Vallée) 2782.98, 8. Nandor Fa (HUN/Spirit of Hungary) 4129.08, 9. Eric Bellion (FRA/CommeUnSeulHomme) 4832.95, 10. Conrad Colman (NZL/Foresight Natural Energy) 4970.59