| Extremely Cold Weather Hinders L-B-L
World War 1 ended November 1918 and Liege-Bastogne-Liege returned to the racing calendar. The 9th edition of Liege-Bastogne-Liege was held on Sunday, September 28, 1919.
The thirty-two starters in Liege were greeted by unseasonably freezing weather. Halfway into the race in Bastogne, the riders arrived wet, frozen, and covered with mud. Firmin Lambot, winner of the 1919 Tour de France, asked for auto-transportation back to Liege.
The organizers had to neutralize the race in Bastogne for two hours and offered the riders a hot meal. After warming up only nine riders continued the race.
At the finish line in Liege six brave riders crossed the line. Leon Devos, literally frozen, crossed the finish line for the victory after having traversed the closing kilometers at just over 15 kph (9 mph).
No spectators stayed to greet the finishing riders. Most fans learned the results in the next day’s newspapers.
SPECIAL NOTE: following the race Leon Devos’ only had one “Dutch” word: "schrikkelijk" (appalling or terrible)!!!
L-B-L September 28, 1919 |
237 Km, Liege-Bastogne-Liege
|
1.
Leon DEVOS (Bel) 9h20'30" |
2.
Henri Hanlet (Bel) +2'30" |
3.
Arthur Claerhout (Bel) +6'30" |
Starters: 32 / Finishers: 6 Ave Speed: 25.370 km/h |
|
L-B-L 1920
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