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By Barry Boyce
Cycling Historian
Contributions from:
By Graham Jones
Cycling Historian
By Eddy O'Rourke
Cycling Historian
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Marcel Kint vs Rik Van Steenbergen: “Chase Down of a Belgian Teammate” - WCRR 1946
The 1946 World Championship Road Race was held in Zurich, Switzerland. After the 1938 race political turmoil in Europe was growing and the Second World War would stop the World Championships for eight years. A very fit Marcel Kint returned with high hopes of defending the 1938 WCRR.
| Marcel Kint victories: |
Rik Van Steenbergen victories: |
TdF: 6 stage wins
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TdF: 4 stage wins
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WCRR: 1938
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Giro: PtJ 1954, 1957, 15 stage wins
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Paris–Roubaix: 1943
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VaE: PtJ 1956, 6 stage wins
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Gent–Wevelgem: 1949
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WCRR: 1949, 1956, 1957
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Milan–San Remo: 1954
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Tour of Flanders: 1944, 1946
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Paris–Roubaix: 1948, 1952
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Flèche Wallonne: 1949, 1958
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The race saw Marcel Kint break away early in the race and ride solo into the closing kilometers. Kint's victory was almost assured of the win when controversy arose. Belgian teammate Rik Van Steenbergen chased down his teammate with 1938 amateur World Champion Hans Knecht (Sui) glued to his wheel. Kint did see what was happening and surged away again on the final climb, but a spectator reached out and grabbed him which allowed the Swiss rider to catch and pass the angry Kint. Hans Knecht rode away from the Belgians to win the World Championship.
Kint protested but race officials denied it. The feud between two great Belgian champions would last for years.
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