Ballerini… at Last a P-R Victory!!!

The 93rd edition of Paris–Roubaix was held on April 9, 1995. Italian Franco Ballerini riding for the powerful Mapei-GB team won his first “Queen of the Classics”!!!

The race came down to a six rider breakaway with 32 km left to go. A determined Franco Ballerini took control of his own destiny in the 3 star cobbled section at Templemars (counting down cobbled section #7 of 22) and rode away from the breakaway group. With nearly 30 km to go Ballerini pulled steadily away.

Entering the velodrome in Roubaix Ballerini had almost a two minute lead on an elite 15 rider chase group. Franco Ballerini cruised across the finish line to finally claim the prestigious P-R victory!!!

Lotto’s Andrei Tchmil won the sprint for second place ahead of Mapei-GB’s Johan Museeuw.

SPECIAL NOTE: Italian Franco Ballerini stated his favorite race was Paris-Roubaix. He came close to winning 3 times prior (3rd in 1994, 2nd in 1993, and 5th in 1991). 1995 was a very special year for Ballerini.

P-R 1994

P-R 1996

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