| The Making of a Champion
The 51st edition of Paris-Roubaix was held on Sunday, April 12, 1953.
A victory at P-R, one of cycling's “5 Monuments”, can make a rider's career. In 1953 promising Belgian Germain Derijcke (Alcyon) was listed as the favorite for victory, but he would face a strong field included defending champions Rik Van Steenbergen (Mercier), Belgians Raymond Impanis (Garin), and Stan Ockers (Peugeot).
168 riders departed St. Denis aggressively with several neo-pros attacking from the gun.
Race Status:
After a general re-grouping in Amiens (115 km / 245 km), the elites came to the front and real racing got started. Raphael Geminiani (Rochet) and Van Steenbergen escaped the peloton with 130 km to the finish.
The other contenders started their pursuit on the Doullens hill (140 km / 245 km).
Approaching Arras (198 km / 245 km), slightly less than 50 kms to go, a 4-rider group held a slim lead.
On the tough cobbles of Henin-Lietard (Beaumont) (204 km / 245 km), Derijcke (Alcyon) attacked. Geminiani (Rochet), Van Steenbergen (Mercier), and Adolfo Grosso (Benotto) joined the leader after an 8-km pursuit.
Crossing a bridge in Courrieres (210 km / 245 km), Van Steenbergen fell heavily and abandoned the race.
Approaching Seclin (220 km / 245 km), Italian Donato Piazza (Bianchi) and Dutchman Wout Wagtmans (Garin) left the peloton and bridged to the three leaders.
From the front of the race Grosso (Benotto) and Geminiani (Rochet) experienced mechanical problems, they dropped off the lead group.
Italian Donato Piazza (Bianchi) made his bid for victory on the hill at Hem (239 km / 245 km), the final difficulty of the race.
Unfortunately, the attack failed to separate from an attentive Derijcke and the two entered the velodrome together.
(L) Germain Derijke (Bel) sprinted past (R) Donato Piazza (Ita)
Around the final bend Piazzo dropped down the track and led out the sprint. Derycke powered past the Italian down the final stretch to claim the first big win of his illustrious career.
P-R April 12, 1953 |
245 Km, St. Denis (north of Paris) to Roubaix (Velodrome)
|
1.
Germain DERIJCKE (Bel) 5h39'19” |
2.
Donato Piazza (Ita) |
3.
Wout Wagtmans (Bel) |
Starters: 168 / Finishers: 75 Average Speed: 43.422 km/h |
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P-R 1952 P-R 1954
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