Stablecloth finish

• tablecloth finish: from an 1882 edition of The London Bicycle Club Gazette: “we fancy the practice of taking the feet from the pedals after a “tablecloth” finish to be a dangerous one, and ought not to be indulged in when a corner comes so soon after the finishing post.” (Given the context, likely this is a term for just that, a finish post that occurs near a sharp corner. There seems to be no indication of this being a close race, the Cambridge men seem to have soundly beaten the others.)

• photo finish