Merckx by a Millimeter
SPECIAL NOTE: the finish line for the 1973 Liege-Bastogne-Liege was moved back to the Stade Velodrome de Rocourt in Liège. The 1972 finish was move to Verviers because of fans' protests.
Eddy Merckx won his third Liege-Bastogne-Liege in a row in 1973, but it was not easy. A group of 16 riders entered the Stade Velodrome de Rocourt in Liège to contest the sprint. Molteni’s Willy In't Ven and Herman Van Springel provided a perfect lead-out for Merckx with Belgian sprinter Frans Verbeeck (Watney-Maes Pils) on his wheel.
Merckx (R) beat Frans Verbeeck by a millimeter
It took the 'finish-line' photo to determine the winner. Merckx by a millimeter!!!
The PHOTO says
L-B-L April 21, 1973 |
236 Km |
1 . Eddy MERCKX (Bel) 6h13'55" |
2. Frans Verbeeck (Bel) |
3. Walter Godefroot (Bel) |
Starters: 150 |
Finishers: 65 |
Average Speed: 37.870 km/h |
L-B-L 1972
L-B-L 1974
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