| Coppi and Bobet Feud as Forestier Wins
The 53rd edition of Paris-Roubaix was held on Sunday, April 10, 1955.
The 1955 P-R saw several minor course changes to add difficulty for the riders. Organizers also added several new towns to the route. *
SPECIAL NOTE: * New towns added: Courcelles les Lens, Evin, Leforest, Moncheaux, and Mons-en-Pevele. New cobbled/difficult sections: Merignies, Pont-a-Marcq, Fretin, and Peronne.
Two cycling elites, Fausto Coppi (Bianchi) and Louison Bobet (L. Bobet), met politely at the start, but their bitter rivalry would play a major role in the outcome of the race.
The race rolled off from St. Denis on a short, neutralized zone in cold and rainy weather. When the starter’s flag dropped an elite group escaped the peloton with Andre Darrigade (La Perle) and Hugo Koblet (Cilo) controlling the breakaway.
Race Status:
The early breakaway was caught as the wet and muddy peloton approached the famed hill at Doullens (133 km / 249 km). Attacks were neutralized over the top of the climb.
In Courcelles (210 Km / 249 km) the real action started 39 km from Roubaix. Local rider Gilbert Schodeller (La Perle) broke clear of the pack. Quickly Bernard Gauthier (Mercier) and Jean Forestier (Follis) joined Schodeller in the breakaway.
Two kms later Forestier accelerated approaching Evin (212 km / 249 km). His attack dropped both Gauthier and Schodeller.
An elite group of 10 including Coppi, Bobet and Swiss Hugo Koblet (Cilo) chased hard. Coppi and Bobet drove the pace of the dwindling pack as Forestier short lead held at 100 meters.
With a solo Forestier moving away, the “Coppi / Bobet” rivalry became evident in the closing kms.
Bobet, the better sprinter, stopped working in the chase group. Realizing the threat, Coppi needed to rest or he would be overcome by Bobet's superior sprint. The pace of the chasers slowed. Schodeller carried the chase group into the velodrome.
A tiring but determined Jean Forestier (Fra) held off the trio to gain a 15 second victory.
The huge crowd at the velodrome was treated to a classic sprint for second place. Fausto Coppi led out the sprint from the back of the group. Bobet reacted quickly but lost the wheel. Around the final bend the Italian held off the late charge of the Frenchman. Coppi second… Bobet third!
SPECIAL NOTE: The rivalry became even more bitter as the two stars left the velodrome without saying a word to each other.
P-R April 10, 1955 |
249 Km, St. Denis (north of Paris) to Roubaix (Velodrome)
|
1.
Jean FORESTIER (Fra) 6h06'42” |
2.
Fausto Coppi (Ita) +15” |
3.
Louison Bobet (Fra) |
Starters: 159 / Finishers: 72 Average Speed: 40.741 km/h |
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P-R 1954 P-R 1956
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