1st Foreigner to Win Flanders
The 7th edition of the Tour of Flanders was held on Sunday, March 18, 1923.
It was spring and the Tour of Flanders excitement was beginning to mount. The start-list this year included the top riders from all over Europe.
Aggressive riding in the closing kilometers split the remaining peloton. Three riders, two Gurtner-Hutchinson teammates, Heiri Suter and Charles Deruyter, and a single La Francaise rider Albert Dejonghe, arrived at the velodrome to contest the sprint.
Arsenal Velodrome in Gentbrugge
Suisse rider Heiri Suter (Gurtner-Hutchinson) stole the spotlight after Belgian sprinter Albert Dejonghe had a velodrome puncture mid-sprint. Suter easily sprinted past Charles Deruyter (Gurtner-Hutchinson) to achieve the prestigious victory.
Suter became the first foreign rider to win the prestigious Tour of Flanders.
SPECAIL NOTE: Heiri Suter also earned the honor of being the first rider to score a Flanders/Paris-Roubaix Double in the same year.
Flanders March 18, 1923 |
243 Km Gent to Gentbrugge (Velodrome) |
1.
Heiri SUTER (Sui) 9h16'15” |
2.
Charles Deruyter (Bel) |
3.
Albert De Jonghe (Bel) |
Starters: 86 |
Finishers: 43 |
Average Speed: 26.210 km/h |
|
RVV 1922  RVV 1924
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