| Track Rider's Timely Attack
The 49th edition of Paris-Roubaix was held on Sunday, April 8, 1951.
A strong international field came to the start in St. Denis, but the list did not include defending champion Fausto Coppi, who crashed and broke his collarbone racing at Milan-Torino (March 11, 1951).
The talented field started the Paris-Roubaix in heavy rain.
Belgian Raymond Impanis (Alcyon) used the cold rain to generate the first significant breakaway of the race. Through the halfway point in Amiens (123 km / 247 km) the 3-rider break, including Lionel Van Brabant (Mercier) and Marcel Molines (J.B. Louvet), held a 2'50” lead.
Race Status:
After Molines faded, the remaining two crested the Doullens hill (133 km / 247 km), holding their 2'50” lead.
The peloton began a brutal pursuit as the race approached Arras (187 km / 247 km), the breakaway was caught 4 kms later.
Frenchman Louison Bobet (Stella) immediately attacked the cobbles of Henin-Lietard and led a new 5-rider group slowly away from the peloton.
In Seclin (220 km / 247 km), at the front of the race danger man Rik Van Steenbergen (Mercier) joined the Bobet group. In the breakaway frequent attacks started to drop strong sprinter Van Steenbergen.
Italian Antonio Bevilacqua (current World ‘pursuit champion’ on the track) put in a huge effort on the hill at Hem (241 km / 247 km). He rode away from the Belgian sprinter and the lead group.
Italian “Toni” Bevilacqua (Benotto) rode into the Roubaix Velodrome alone and crossed the finish line 1'30” in front of Frenchman Louison Bobet (Stella) in second place and Belgian Rik Van Steenbergen (Mercier) in third.
P-R April 8, 1951 |
247 Km, St. Denis (north of Paris) to Roubaix (Velodrome)
|
1.
Antonio BEVILACQUA (Ita) 6h07'14” |
2.
Louison Bobet (Fra) +1'30” |
3.
Rik Van Steenbergen (Bel) |
Starters: 202 / Finishers: 57 Average Speed: 40.355 km/h |
|
P-R 1950 P-R 1952
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