13th World Championship Road Race 1946

Return of the World Championship Road Race!

The 1946 World Championship Road Race was held in “Swiss neutral territory” (unaffected by war) around Zurich, Switzerland. The race course was 20 laps of a 13.5 km circuit that included the difficult climb of the Monte Digglemann each lap.

After the close of WW2 1938 WC raod race champion Marcel Kint (Bel) returned to face 1938 World amateur champion Hans Knecht of Switzerland.

Race Status:

At the beginning of the 13th lap (176 km / 270 km), a breakaway of 13-riders were in the lead. The elite group included Italians Fausto Coppi, Mario Ricci and Adolfo Leoni, Belgians Marcel Kint and Rik Van Steenbergen, and Swiss Hans Knecht.

During the lap Coppi punctured and lost contact with the leaders.

Marcel Kint set an aggressive pace and thinned the lead group to 3-riders.

Kint broke away from the group and left everyone behind. The Belgian rode solo into the closing kilometers.
Kint's victory was almost assured, when controversy arose when fellow Belgian Rik van Steenbergen chased down his teammate with Knecht glued to his wheel.

Kint saw what happened and surged away again on the final climb, but a spectator reached out and grabbed him which allowed the Swiss rider to catch and pass the angry Kint.

Hans Knecht rode away from both Belgians to win the World Road Race Championship.

Marcel Kint issued a protest, but since race officials did not see the obstruction, the appeal was denied the complaint.

WCRR 1938 WCRR 1947

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