| Tuscan Rider's Misfortune
Defending champion George Claes returned to confirm his 1946 Paris-Roubaix victory. But it was a little known Tuscan rider that stole the day.
Olimpio Bizzi dropped his two breakaway companions with 212 km remaining in the race and rode solo through the Italian mining villages of northern France. Disaster struck the Italian when his rear wheel snapped. He quickly got a replacement but his big lead was down to 40 seconds. An ever attentive Claes accelerated. A Claes led a 3 rider group caught and dropped a tearful Bizzi.
Frenchman Louis Thietard led out the sprint in the Velodrome. Easily Claes flew around Thietard's lead out to claim his second consecutive victory. After the race Claes complimented Bizzi for such an extraordinary effort with so little luck.
P-R April 6, 1947 |
246 Km, St. Denis (north of Paris) to Roubaix (Velodrome) |
1.
George CLAES (Bel) 6h10'34” |
2.
Adolf Verschueren (Bel)
|
| 3.
Loius Thietard (Fra)
|
Starters: 200 |
| Finishers: 36 |
Average Speed: 39.830 km/h |
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45th Paris-Roubaix 1947 (France) 
