| Soldier on Leave Gains Paris-Roubaix Victory
The 10th edition of Paris-Roubaix was held on Sunday, April 23, 1905.
SPECIAL NOTE: Paris-Roubaix began to gain prestige. New organizer Henri Desgrange said the race had "found its rhythm". Sports newspaper L'Auto sold 10,000 copies with the 'P-R start list' in an hour. To Desgrange’s delight the velodrome was sold out!!!
Louis "Trou-Trou" Trousselier (Fra) with limited training on the bicycle because of military service, answered all the early attacks by Henri Cornet. Private Trousselier came to the start line on a 24-hour pass.
The race started at 7:00 am in front of Monsieur Bouche’s shop in the Paris suburb of Chatou.
Through the early kilometers the peloton remained intact.
Race Status:
The first serious attack came at Amblainville (50 km into the race / 268 km), when Henri Cornet (Cycles J.C.) escaped the peloton.
Through Beauvais (73 km / 268 km), his lead was 2’00” on the closest pursuer.
At Breteuil (112 km / 268 km), a mass crash caused the chase to slow. Trousselier (Peugeot) and Rene Pottier (Peugeot) avoided the mishap and rode away from the group. Race favorite Hippolyte Aucouturier (Peugeot) fell heavily and damaged his bicycle. He had to wait for repairs.
Near Amiens (159 km / 268 km), Cornet was caught by Trousselier and Pottier. The trio held a 3’00” lead on hard charging Aucouturier and Edouard Wattelier (Cycles J.C.).
Approaching Arres (212 km / 268 km), Pottier attacked with Cornet jumping to his wheel. With the hard effort Cornet broke his toe strap and lost contact. Ceasing the opportunity Trousselier caught Pottier and rode past him. Attentively Pottier held on to “Trou-Trou.”
In the heart of mining country near Carvin (228 km / 268 km), Pottier began to struggle with the pace and dropped from Trousselier’s wheel.
Louis Trousselier survived the closing cobbled sections and arrived at the velodrome solo. With the trumpets sounding Le Marseillaise, the huge crowd started a chant of "Trou-Trou", he crossed the finish line to claim the prestigious Paris-Roubaix victory.
During his victory lap "Trou-Trou" celebrated by throwing flowers into the crowd!
SPECIAL NOTE: Later in 1905 Louis Trousselier became the first rider to gain a Paris-Roubaix / Tour de France double victory in the same year.
P-R April 23, 1905 |
268 Km, Chatou (west of Paris) to Roubaix (Velodrome - Rue Verte, Criox)
|
1.
Louis TROUSSELIER (Fra) 8hr04’15” |
2.
Rene Pottier (Fra) +7'00" |
3.
Henri Cornet (Fra) +16'00" |
Starters: 63 / Finishers: 26 Average Speed: 33.206 km/h |
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P-R 1904
P-R 1906
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