| Ockers Wins "Le Weekend Ardennais"
The 41st edition of Liege-Bastogne-Liege was held on May 1, 1955.
The 1955 L-B-L victory came with a minor controversy. Having won Le Fleche Wallonne, the day before, Stan Ockers (Elve) agreed to help his teammate and "Liege eternal second" * Raymond Impanis win his first L-B-L.
After a series of attacks, the Elve teammates broke clear with Impanis leading into the final km.
Disregarding the previous day’s agreement, Ockers sprinted past his teammate to take the L-B-L victory and complete the “Ardennes Double”. Raymond Impanis finished in second place.
SPECIAL NOTE: Belgian superstar Stan Ockers won the 1955 "Le Weekend Ardennais", which was first accomplished by Ferdi Kubler in 1951 and 1952.
Ockers wins ahead of teammate Impanis
SPECIAL NOTE: * This year’s finish was Impanis’ FOURTH consecutive second-place finish at L-B-L.
SAD SPECIAL NOTE: On September 29, 1956, Ockers, while racing at the Antwerp indoor velodrome, crash heavily, fracturing his skull and braking 4 ribs. Rushed to the hospital, he died 2 days late at the age of 36. An extremely popular rider in Belgium, his death prompted a ‘National Day of Mourning’.
In 1957, a monument was erected in his hometown (Les Forges, Sprimont).
L-B-L May 1, 1955 |
238 Km, Liege-Bastogne-Liege
|
1.
Stan OCKERS (Bel) 6h50'58" * |
2.
Raymond Impanis (Bel) |
3.
Jean Brankart (Bel) +44" |
Starters: 116 / Finishers: 35  Ave Speed: 34.750 km/h |
|
A solo Ockers winning at Fleche Wallone
Fleche Wallone April 30, 1955 |
220 Km [ Charleroi to Liege ] |
1.
Stan OCKERS (Bel) 6h12'20" * |
2. Alphonse Vandenbrande (Bel) +2'46" |
3.
Stanislas Bober (Fra) |
Starters: 119 |
Finishers: 59 |
Average Speed: 35.450 km/h |
L-B-L 1954 L-B-L 1956
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