Armel Le Cleac'h wins Vendee Globe round-the-world race
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}LES SABLES D'OLONNE, France (AP) Armel Le Cleac'h held off a late surge from British sailor Alex Thomson to win the Vendee Globe round-the-world race Thursday in record time.
The 39-year-old Frenchman finished the race in 74 days. Francois Gabart held the previous record of 78 days in the 2012-13 edition of the race, which is held every four years and sailed entirely without assistance.
Le Cleac'h, the runner-up in the previous two races, stood up on his boat, pumped his fist and threw both arms up in the air as he crossed the finish line.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Thomson, meanwhile, was expected to arrive at Les Sables d'Olonne early Friday morning. Thomson was competing for the fourth time and looking to become the first British sailor to win it.