| The First Ardennes Double in 1951
The 36th edition of Liege-Bastogne-Liege was held on April 22, 1951.
SPECIAL NOTE: L-B-L promoters, led by Les Sport, made a change to the race date. They moved the start to ‘late April-early May’ from a fluctuating ‘June to August’ date. The new date put L-B-L on the same weekend as Fleche-Wallonne. The move set up an extraordinary possibility of an Ardennes 'weekend' Double.
21-year-old Belgian Germain Derijcke (Alcyon) animated the race when he plunged off the final climb and flew into Liege in the lead.
Swiss champion Ferdi Kubler (Frejus) closed quickly as the Belgian came onto the finishing straight. Kubler made the connection with the leader as Derijcke opened his final effort. A superior sprinter Kubler easily passed the Belgian and crossed the finish line first.
Ferdi Kubler (Sui) became the first rider to accomplish the “Ardennes Double”, a victory in both the Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege in the same year.
SPECIAL NOTE: The prestige of L-B-L continued to soar when the race was added to the Elite year-long competition, Challenge Desgrange-Colombo.
L-B-L April 22, 1951 |
211 Km, Liege-Bastogne-Liege
|
1.
Ferdi KUBLER (Sui) 5h41'01" * |
2.
Germain Derijcke (Bel) |
3.
Wout Wagtmans (Ned) +21" |
Starters: 161 / Finishers: 72  Ave Speed: 37.122 km/h |
|
Fleche Wallone April 21, 1951 |
220 Km [ Charleroi to Liege ] |
1.
Ferdi KUBLER (Sui) 6h21'59" * |
2.
Gino Bartali (Ita) |
3.
Jean Robic (Fra) |
Starters: 148 |
Finishers: 47 |
Average Speed: 34.561 km/h |
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