| New Stars Provide a Great Finish
The 8th edition of Paris-Roubaix was held on Sunday, April 11, 1903.
The pioneering heroes of Paris-Roubaix were retiring, and new “stars of cycling” were emerging.
Race Status:
On the road to Amiens (154 km / 268 km), a six-rider breakaway group formed.
In Doullens (172 km / 268 km), Hyppolite Aucouturier (Fra) launched multiple attacks that split the group. Claude Chapperon (Fra) managed to join him. A solo Louis Trousselier (Fra) chased the duo.
In the closing kms Chapperon and Aucouturier (nicknamed ‘the Terrible') worked well together and approached the velodrome at high speed.
A dominating performance by Hyppolite Aucouturier (Fra) was overshadowed by a late charge by Claude Chapperon (Fra), who got to the velodrome first.
Bike change at the Velodrome entrance, Aucouturier leading Chapperon.
By tradition riders stopped to exchange bikes at the entrance of the velodrome to complete the final six laps of the track.
Chapperon entered the velodrome with a fifty meters lead and hastily grabbed Trousselier's bike. Quickly he returned for his own bike and was passed by Aucouturier. With a delay of one hundred meters Chapperon chased and came back to ten meters but could not catch Aucouturier.
The Paris-Roubaix victory belonged to Hyppolite ‘the Terrible' Aucouturier (Fra).
Thirty-nine seconds later Louis Trousselier (Fra) cross the finish line in third place.
P-R April 11, 1903 |
268 Km, Chatou (west of Paris) to Roubaix (Velodrome - 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 |
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P-R 1902
P-R 1904
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