| Confusing Outcome of “The Affair ”
The 47th edition of Paris-Roubaix was held on Sunday, April 17, 1949.
The 1949 P-R set into motion a series of events that challenged officials of FFC (French Cycling Federation) and the UCI (Union Cycliste International).
The pre-race predictions pointed to a duel between the defending champion Rik Van Steenbergen (Bel), and “Campionissimo” Fausto Coppi (Ita).
Race Status:
An 8-rider breakaway had a lead of 1’15” in Breteuil (95 Km / 244 km).
Coming into the control point in Amiens (128 Km / 244 km), Ferdi Kubler (Frejus) crashed heavily and abandoned the race.
At the top of the Doullens hill (158 Km / 244 km), Louis Déprez (Mercier) took the lead with Bernard Gautier (Mercier) on his wheel. Ten riders trailed them at 30”, then the peloton at 1’15” behind.
Approaching Arras (201 Km / 244 km), after a hard chase the peloton came back together.
In Arras (205 Km / 244 km), pre-race favorite Rik Van Steenbergen (Mercier) crashed and abandoned the race.
In Seclin (228 Km / 244 km), Jesus Moujica (Fra- Mercier) escaped the peloton. Florent Mathieu (Bel-Rochet), then Frans Leenen (Bel-Starnord), and Andre Mahe (Fra-Stella) joined the leader.
In Hem (238 Km / 244 km), Mathieu crashed out of the breakaway.
At the Roubaix Velodrome Mahé, Leenen, and Moujica arrived in the lead. The “Affair” started when an overwhelmed course marshal signaled the breakaway off course. By the time they discovered the error the trio had gone too far. With the peloton closing quickly a journalist came to the rescue and pointed Mahe and Leeren to the track's press entrance on the opposite side of the track.
Jesus Moujica (Fra) crashed in the confusion. On the front Andre Mahe (Fra) sprinted past Frans Leenen (Bel) and crossed the finish line first as the peloton entered the track from the correct side.
Italian Serse Coppi (Ita), brother of Fausto Coppi (Ita), finished ahead of André Declerck (Bel-Bertin) in the sprint as the confusion continued.
Lead finish line judge Henri Boudard declared Andre Mahe the winner. He proudly did a lap of honor. An immediate appeal was launched by Coppi. An overwhelmed Boudard upheld the protest and Coppi was declared the winner. But this was not the end of the affair.
Five days later the French Cycling Federation (FFC) reversed the results and declared Mahe first and Leenen second. Now the Italian Cycling Federation appealed to the Union Cycliste InternationalUnion Cycliste International (UCI).
The power of the Coppi name and Team Bianchi came into play. In August, the UCI cancelled the entire results, deferring the matter until the UCI’s Congress meetings in November.
November 13, 1949, the Congress reached a compromise and declared Serse Coppi and Andre Mahe equally first.
The story of the 1949 Paris-Roubaix will be remembered for the controversial finish not the aggressive, star-studded race that had unfolded on the roads to Roubaix
P-R April 17, 1949 |
244 Km, St. Denis (north of Paris) to Roubaix (Velodrome)
|
1.
* Andre MAHE (Fra) 6h11'59” |
1. *
Serse Coppi (Ita) 6h11'59” |
3. **
Frans Leenen (Bel) |
3. **
George Martin (Fra) |
3.
**
Jacques Moujica (Fra) |
Starters: 217 / Finishers: 109 Average Speed: 39.256 km/h |
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P-R 1948 P-R 1950
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