| Bobet Sails Over the Stars
The 39th edition of the Tour of Flanders was held March 27, 1955.
All the stars of cycling came to Flanders in 1955. There were 203 starters on a bitterly cold but dry day in Belgium. Talented Frenchman Louison Bobet (in the WC's Rainbow Jersey) returned with unfinished business.
Race Status:
An early 16-riders breakaway driven by Rik Van Steenbergen (Bel-Elvé) escaped in the early kms.
Driving the pace of the group Van Steenbergen rode over the Kluisberg * and the Kruisberg at the front of the pack.
SPECIAL NOTE: * Van Steenbergen passed first over the climb of the Kluisberg and won a washing machine.
World champion Louison Bobet (Fra-Mercier) was in a hard chasing group over 3 minutes behind.
Van Steenbergen breakaway was caught after Louison Bobet’s team Mercier led the chasing peloton.
By the steep climb of the Muur de Geraardsbergen, the front groups came back together. Bobet's Mercier teammate attacked on the climb.
After the Muur van Geraardsbergen (233 km / 263 km), a new elite lead group of four formed, including Hugo Koblet (Sui-Cilo), Bernard Gauthier (Fra-Mercier), Van Steenbergen and Bobet.
The peloton began to take back time on the leaders when a level railroad crossing slowed the leaders. The four leaders ducked under the closed crossing and continued. **
The leaders flew through the finishing circuits in Wetteren, Gauthier did the work for Bobet. Van Steenbergen threw caution to the wind and led out the sprint from 500 meters. Bobet and Koblet held his wheel and jumped past the tiring Belgian.
Bobet (L) beat Koblet (C) and Van Steenbergen (R)
Louison Bobet took the victory with Koblet second and a disappointed Van Steenbergen third. This finish showed the power of Bobet's sprint and Gauthier's strategic role in the final kilometers.
SPECIAL NOTE: Louison Bobet became the first French winner of the Tour of Flanders.
SPECIAL NOTE: ** Fifth place finisher, Karel Debaere, lodged a protest over the illegal crossing of the level railroad crossing.
After race director Karel Van Wijnendaele intervened, race officials denied the protest. They justified the infraction by saying that the ducking under the level crossing was illegal in Belgium but legal in other countries. Since there was no 'moto-marshal' present to enforce the rule, the protest was denied.
Flanders March 27, 1955 |
263 Km, Gent to Wetteren |
1.
Louison BOBET (Fra) 7h27'00" |
2.
Hugo Koblet (Sui) |
3.
Rik Van Steenbergen (Bel) |
Starters: 203 Finishers: 47Average Speed: 35.300 km/h |
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RVV 1954 RVV 1956
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