| An Inspiring Spring Run
The 52nd edition of Paris-Roubaix was held on Sunday, April11, 1954.
The very popular Raymond Impanis (Mercier) came to P-R with victories in the prestigious Paris-Nice and Tour of Flanders in 1954. At the start in St. Denis Impanis (Bel) led the list of favorites for the victory.
Race Status:
In Flers (100 km / 246 km), an early breakaway built a 3-minute lead after 100 kms of racing.
The breakaway group had three of the race’s favorites and caused the pursuit to begin in earnest.
At the top of the hill in Doullens (149 km / 246 km), the Team Mercier controlled breakaway held a 2’30” lead.
Through Arras (184 km / 246 km), the pace in the chasing peloton began to increase.
On the tough cobbled section at Henin-Lietard (206 km / 246 km), the gap began to come down.
Additional cobbled sections saw a regrouping at the front of the race. Immediately Italian Pasquale Fornara (Bottecchia) broke away for the peloton.
In Carvin (213 km / 246 km), Armand Papazian (Mercier) and Roger Hassenforder (Mercier) managed to catch the Italian.
When Fornara punctured and he lost contact with the two Mercier teammates.
Belgian riders led a hard chase and a general regrouping occurred 18 kms from the velodrome in Roubaix.
At Hem (241 km / 246 km), a large crash ended the hopes of Hugo Koblet (Cilo), Donato Piazza (Bianchi), Ricardo Filippi (Bianchi), Giorgio Albani (Legnano), Roger Hassenforder (Mercier), René Mertens (Groene Leeuw), and Jan Storms (Dilecta).
Defending champion Germain Derijcke (Alcyon) attacked hard from the back of the 15-rider lead group forcing the contenders to react. Aggressively Raymond Impanis (Mercier) caught and dropped Derijcke.
Impanis held a 100-meter lead entering the velodrome. The huge crowd roared as the popular Impanis powered through the three closing laps of the track and crossed the finish line for the grand victory.
SPECIAL NOTE: Raymond Impanis joined Gaston Rebry (done in 1934) as the only riders to win Paris-Nice, Flanders, and Paris-Roubaix in the same year.
P-R April 11, 1954 |
245 Km, St. Denis (north of Paris) to Roubaix (Velodrome)
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1.
Raymond IMPANIS (Bel) 6h54'43” |
2.
Stan Ockers (Bel) |
3.
Marcel Rijckaert (Bel) |
Starters: 174 / Finishers: 112 Average Speed: 35.590 km/h |
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P-R 1953 P-R 1955
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