34th Ronde van Vlaanderen 1950 / Tour of Flanders (Belgium)

Powerful Italian Dominates… Again!

Defending champion Fiorenzo Magni sat on the front of the peloton all day. He broke away midway through the race with Wim Van Est and Andre Mahe. On the Muur de Grammont the Italian “Lion of Flanders” rode away from the breakaway group and soloed to claim his second Tour of Flanders victory.

Special Note: The 1950 edition of Flanders added a 5th berg, the first ascent of the Muur de Geraardsbergen (Muur Gammont in French). (In 1950 total bergs were 5)

Special Note: Briek Schotte, who was racing Flanders for the 11th consecutive time (of an eventual 20 consecutive times), could have fared better in 1950. The weather was horrible with cold temperature, rain, snow and strong winds.  With Magni, Van Est and Mahe in a breakaway Briek had a puncture. His fingers were frozen and he could barely change the punctured tire. Luckily he was helped by a spectator. He started the pursuit 5 minutes behind the breakaway. At the finish he was only 2 minutes behind Magni. Briek told reporters “this was the best Tour of Flanders I ever rode.”

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