| French Sprinter Pushes a Huge Gear to Victory
The 19th edition of Paris-Roubaix was held on Sunday, April 12, 1914.
Bright sunny weather greeted the 153 riders at the start. They would race to a newly renovated Roubaix Velodrome.
SPECIAL NOTE: The start line in 1914 moved from Chatou, 6 km east, to Suresnes.
Departure moved to Suresnes.
When the starter’s flag dropped the peloton proceeded cautiously. Young riders seemed timid and preferred waiting for the elite elders to control the race. Attrition in the peloton happened slowly.
Race Status:
At the control station in Beauvais (75 km / 265 km), the peloton had 125 riders.
At Amiens (135 km / 265 km), the lead group contained 100 riders.
On the Doullens hill (167 km / 265 km), the usual launching point, had little action.
The mystery of the day was that defending champion Francois Faber trailed by 15’00”?
The race exploded after the check point in Arras (211 km / 274 km), a pack of 50 the elites finally began setting a fast pace, only 21 riders were able to hold the pace.
Just before Hem (258 km / 265 km), Louis Luguet (Automoto), Cyrille Van Hauwaert (La Francaise), Oscar Egg (Peugeot), and local favorite Charles Crupelandt (La Francaise) led a 15-rider breakaway into Roubaix. Fatigue began to reduce the group's numbers.
1912 Paris-Roubaix champion Charles Crupelandt (Fra) led the final group of 7 onto the velodrome for the final 3-lap sprint. The Frenchman, who trained on the Roubaix Velodrome, used a huge gear (24x7) to clearly outsprint his breakaway companions.
Local Roubaix hero Crupelandt won Paris-Roubaix for the second time!
SPECIAL NOTE: On August 4, 1914, Crupelandt was in Berlin, Germany racing on the Olympic Velodrome. That day war was declared and Frenchman Crupelandt needed to use his cunning and guile to escape Germany.
P-R April 12, 1914 |
274 Km, Suresnes (west of Paris) to Roubaix (Velodrome - Rue Verte, Criox)
|
1.
Charles CRUPELANDT (Fra)
9h02'02" |
2.
Louis Luguet (Fra) |
3.
Louis Mottiat (Bel) |
Starters:153 / Finishers: 79 Average Speed: 30.332 km/h |
|
P-R 1913
P-R 1919
Return to the Timeline ToC
Return to the Race Snippets ToC |
