Belgians Battle Italians

The 26th edition of Paris-Roubaix was held on Easter Sunday, April 12, 1925.

Italy’s two Campionissimos Constante Girardengo and Alfredo Binda led an extremely strong Italian contingent into Paris-Roubaix with high hopes. The Belgians entered defending champion Jules Van Hevel and Felix Sellier to butt heads with the Italians.

The race left Suresnes from the ‘depart fictif’ for a 10 km “neutral zone.” In Le Vesinet, the ‘depart réel’ (actual start), the racing heated up. Like P-R 1924 a slow early pace put the race behind the 'arrival schedule'.

Race Status:

At the control station in Amiens (132 km / 260 km), a compact ninety riders rode in together.

Through Doullens (160 km / 260 km), the pace increased and the peloton began to split.

On the plains approaching Arras (195 km / 260 km), the peloton reformed going into the northern cobbled sections.

A slow-paced race broke loose on the tough cobbles north of Arras (202 km / 260 km). Alfredo Binda tried to escape but the Pelissier brothers sensed the danger of the move and closed the gap quickly.

The stronger teams chased down all breakaways in the closing kilometers. A 50-rider peloton prepared for a fabulous sprint.

Onto the finishing straight, along the Avenue des Villas, defending champion Jules Van Hevel (Bel) lead out a long sprint, but attentively Felix Sellier (Bel) jumped on his wheel. Sellier completed an extraordinary effort coming past Van Hevel and Italian sprinter Piero Bestetti (Wolsit) at the line to take the victory.

SPECIAL NOTE: forty-year-old Eugene “Old Gaulois” Christophe rode remarkably well, finishing 10th in the final group.

P-R April 12, 1925 260 Km, Suresnes (west of Paris) to Roubaix (Ave des Villas) 1. Felix SELLIER (Bel) 9h16'32” 2. Piero Bestetti (Ita) 3. Jules Van Hevel (Bel) Starters: 125 / Finishers: 80 Average Speed: 28.030 km/h

P-R 1924

P-R 1926

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