Milan and the Lion of Flanders
The 2nd Milan-San Remo was held on April 5, 1908. The harshness of the racing conditions caused problems all day and only 14 of the 48 riders starting in Milan managed to finish in San Remo.
Belgian riders have always been known for their strength and toughness. Cyrille Van Hauwaert (Bel) had earned the nickname the first "Lion of Flanders". In 1908 after riding his bicycle from Belgium to the start in Milan, he raced through miserable weather with gusty winds, snow and freezing rain from start to finish.
The horrible state of the roads in 1908 contributed to the harshness of the race. The peloton was drastically reduced because of multiple punctures and mechanical failures.
Miserable weather from start to finish
Race Status:
An elite group of contenders emerged on the climb of the Passo Turchino. Belgian Cyrille Van Hauwaert (Alcyon) led Italians Giovanni Rossignoli (Alcyon), and Carlo Galetti (Isolati), Frenchmen André Pottier (Peugeot), and Henri Lignon (Alcyon), into a blizzard of snow and sleet. Lignon and Van Houwaert set a rapid pace and split the group. Over the summit they precede Galetti by a minute, Pottier and Rossignoli were further back.
The race got no relief from the weather along the Ligurian Coast.
An icy rain and an annoyingly cold headwind greeted the two leaders in Finale Ligure, (206 km / 283.4 km) 77 kms from the finish in San Remo.
Van Hauwaert’s hard pace destroyed his last companion, Henri Lignon (Fra).
On the climb of the Capo Berta (263 km / 288 km), Van Hauwaert jumped away from his Alcyon teammate Lignon, who immediately abandoned the race.
The inspired Belgian rode solo to the finish to gain the M-SR victory.
From the chase group with Luigi Ganna, André Trousselier and Augustin Ringeval set a hard pace. Late in the race Ganna began to close on the leader, but Van Hauwaert held onto his lead and rode across the finish in San Remo for a 3'30" victory.
Only 14 of the 48 riders that starter in Milan finish the race in San Remo.
SPECIAL NOTE:Cyrille Van Hauwaert continued his brilliant racing 2 weeks later by winning the “Queen of the Classics” Paris-Roubaix.
M-SR April 5, 1908 / 283.4 Km |
1.
Cyrille VAN HAUWAERT (Bel) 11h33'00" |
2.
Luigi Ganna (Ita) +3'30" |
3.
Andre Pottier (Fra) +6'25" |
Starters: 48 / Finishers: 14 Average Speed: 24.547 km/h |
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M-SR 1907
M-SR 1909
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