34th Ronde van Vlaanderen 1950 / Tour of Flanders (Belgium)

Powerful Italian Dominates… Again!

The 34th edition of Tour of Flanders raced 273 km from Gent to Wetteren. The weather was miserable with icy winds along the coast and periods of snow inland.

Defending champion Fiorenzo Magni (Ita) returned in great form and relentlessly dominated the front of the race.

Briek Schotte, who was racing Flanders for the 11th consecutive time (of an eventual 20 consecutive times), could have fared better in 1950. The weather was horrible with cold temperature, rain, snow and strong winds. Briek, riding with Magni, Wim Van Est (Ned) and Andre Mahe (Fra) in the breakaway, had a puncture. His fingers were frozen and he could barely change the punctured tire. Luckily he was helped by a spectator. Schotte started his pursuit of the leaders 5 minutes behind the breakaway.

Fiorenzo Magni broke away midway through the race with Wim Van Est and Andre Mahe. The Italian “Lion of Flanders” rode away from the breakaway group on the Muur de Geraardsbergen and soloed all the way to Wetteren to claim his second Tour of Flanders victory.

At the finish Schotte had caught and passed the lead group, he finished only 2 minutes behind Magni. Briek told reporters “this was the best Tour of Flanders I ever rode.”

SPECIAL NOTE: The 1950 edition of Flanders added a 5th berg with the first ascent of the Muur de Geraardsbergen (Muur Gammont in French). (In 1950 total bergs were 5)

RVV 1949

RVV 1951

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