| Belgians Takes Back Flanders
The 36th edition of the Tour of Flanders was held April 6, 1952.
SPECIAL NOTE: Three-time defending champion did not return to defend his Flanders title in 1952. After two years of severe Belgian spring weather with cold and windy condition, the Italian “Lion of Flanders” declared “it (Flanders) was too brutal a test…”
Race Status:
The early kms of the Ronde started with several breakaway attempts, but the peloton came back together in Oudenaarde (175 km / 258 km).
The rain and cold turned the Flemish cobblestone roads into a treacherous passageway. Every cobbled section sapped the strength in the legs.
Young French superstar Louison Bobet (Stella) used a “Magni tactic” and attacked over the Muur de Geraardsbergen.
The effort worked perfectly and Bobet opened a substantial lead.
Eight kms from Wetteren Bobet's untimely puncture allowed Roger Decock (Bertin), Briek Schotte (Alcyon) and Loretto Petrucci (Bianchi) to regain the front of the race. The Frenchman lost contact with the leaders.
The three rode into Wetteren to contest the sprint.
Tactically Belgians Schotte and Decock joined forces to outsmart the Italian Petrucci. Roger Decock used Scotte's lead out to win the sprint. He claimed the 1952 Tour of Flanders victory.
SPECIAL NOTE: Years after the race, Roger Decock admitted that in the very bad weather, and before the start of the race, a local pharmacist offered him a special “bad weather rub”. Through all the cold rain the rub kept his body warm. “It was like driving next to a stove. I felt excellent."
Flanders April 6, 1952 |
258 Km, Gent to Wetteren |
1.
Roger DECOCK (Bel) 7h27'00" |
2.
Loretto Petrucci (Ita) |
3.
Briek Schotte (Bel) |
Starters: 210  Finishers: 43 Average Speed: 34.632 km/h |
|
RVV 1951 RVV 1953
Return to the Timeline ToC
Return to the Race Snippets ToC |
