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By Barry Boyce,
CyclingRevealed Historian
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New Stars Provide a Great Finish
The pioneering heroes of Paris-Roubaix were retiring and new stars of cycling were emerging. A dominating performance by Hyppolite Aucouturier (Fra) was over shadowed by a late charge by Claude Chapperon (Fra), who caught Aucouturier in the shadow of the Roubaix Velodrome.
![](photos/P_R1903_c2.jpg)
Bike change at the Velodrome enterance, Aucouturier leading Chapperon
By tradition riders stopped to exchange bike at the entrance of the velodrome in order to complete the final 6 laps of the track. Chapperon entered the velodrome with a 50 meters lead and hastily grabbed the wrong bike. Quickly he returned for his own bike and was passed by Aucouturier. Anxiously Chapperon chased but couldn't catch Aucouturier. The P-R glory belonged to Hyppolite ‘the Terrible' Aucouturier (Fra).
![](photos/P_R1903_clip_image002.jpg)
Aucouturier
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P-R April 11, 1903 |
268 Km, Chatou (west of Paris) to Roubaix (Rue Verte, Criox) |
1.
Hyppolite AUCOUTURIER (Fra) 9hr12’30” |
2.
Claude Chapperon (Fra) +2" |
3.
Louis Trousselier (Fra) +39" |
Starters: 51 |
Finishers: 27 |
Average Speed: 29.104 km/h |
P-R 1902
P-R 1904
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