| |
By Barry Boyce,
CyclingRevealed Historian |
|
Liege-Bastogne-Liege 1952
Achiving the Ardennes Double (a victory in both the Fleche Wallone and Liege-Bastogne-Liege) in 1951 wasn't enough for Swiss champion Ferdinand 'Ferdi' Kübler. He returned in 1952 to claim the Ardennes 'weekend' Double title AGAIN!!!
Fleche-Wallone |
Liege-Bastogne-Liege |
The organizers increased the difficulty of the race course in 1952. The tough climb of the Cote de Wanne, just 60 km from the finish in Liege, was added to the parcours.
French star Louison Bobet used the new climb as a launching pad. Defending champion Ferdi Kubler, enjoying super form, joined Bobet with Jean Robic (Fra) and Henri Van Kerckhove (Bel) in tow. Descending the Wanne Bobet suffered a puncture and dropped from the lead group.
An inspired Kubler drove the pace and sapped the energy of Robic and Van Kerckhove. When the breakaway came into Liege Kubler dropped Robic and easily out-sprinted a young Van Kerckhove.
Not only was Kubler the first rider to claim the Ardennes Double, he is the only rider to claim two Ardennes Doubles. Kübler’s grand accomplishment was not that he did it twice but he did it back-to-back.
| L-B-L May 11, 1952 |
| 229 Km |
1.
Ferdi KUBLER (Sui) 6h28'08" * |
2.
Henri Van Kerckhove (Bel) |
3.
Jean Robic (Fra) +15" |
Starters: 132 |
Finishers: 55 |
Average Speed: 35.402 km/h |
| Fleche Wallone May 10, 1952 |
| 220 Km [ Charleroi to Liege ] |
1.
Ferdi KUBLER (Sui) 5h59'59" * |
2.
Stan Ockers (Bel) |
3.
Roger Impanis (Bel) |
Starters: 111 |
Finishers: 47 |
Average Speed: 36.670 km/h |
L-B-L 1951
L-B-L 1953
Return to the Timeline ToC
Return to the Race Snippets ToC |
|
