| Ronsse was the Strongest but Meunier Wins
The 30th edition of Paris-Roubaix was held on March 31, 1929.
SPECIAL NOTE: The finish line was moved to the Amédée-Prouvost Stadium (a cinder track) in the neighboring town of Wattrelos, whose ‘stands’ allowed the organizers to generate revenue from the public.
The race started in Porte Maillot Paris from the depart fictif for a 10 km “neutral zone.” In Le Vesinet, the depart réel (actual start), the determined Belgian teams controlled the peloton.
A cold north wind (head wind) greeted the riders at the start in Le Vesinet.
Race Status:
At the bottom of the Doullens Hill (160 km / 260 km), the Belgians Julien Vervaecke (Alcyon) and Hector Van Rossem (Alcyon) attacked, joined quickly by the Frenchmen Joseph Mauclair (La Francaise) and Camille Foucaux (Roold). Vervaecke led the group over the top of the climb with the breakaway gaining 2’00” on the peloton.
The quartet did not work well together and in Arras (196 km / 260 km), 25 riders caught them. While the riders went through the Arras feed/control station Belgians Aimé Deolet (La Francaise), Charles Meunier (La Francaise), Georges Ronsse (La Francaise), and Alfred Hamerlinck (Génial Lucifer) escaped.
Ronsse drove a hard pace through the tough cobbled section at Henin-Lietard. Under the relentless pressure on the cobbles, Hamerlinck suffered a puncture and had to retire from the race.
After the three riders attacked and escaped the peloton, they gained significant time when clouds of dust off the cobbled road hindered the chase.
16 kilometers from the Roubaix finish, an untimely puncture slowed Ronsse, but the powerful Belgian recovered and easily reconnected with the breakaway.
Ronsse led the group into the new finish area at Amedee Prouvot Stadium.
Ronsse led the group into the Amedee Prouvot Stadium (a cinder track)
The cinder track in the stadium proved to be treacherous and on the final bend Ronsse crashed heavily, taking Deolet down with him. Charles Meunier avoided the two fallen riders and crossed the finish line to claim victory. Clearly the strongest rider during the race, Ronsse carried his broken bike to the finish to claim second place.
Victory to Charles Meunier
SPECIAL NOTE: Following the breakaway’s finish, inadequate 'crowd control' by stadium security saw fans invade the track. Three minutes and nineteen seconds later the field arrived and had to be stopped by race officials… in the chaos no classification was made for fourth to twentieth place.
SPECIAL NOTE: Following the race the promoters faced harsh criticism for finishing P-R on a cinder track. The Avenue des Villas returned as the finish line in 1930.
P-R March 31, 1929 |
260 Km, Porte Maillot Paris to Wattrelos (Stade Amerdee Prouvost)
|
1.
Charles MEUNIER (Bel) 8h54'50” |
2.
Georges Ronsse (Bel) |
3.
Aime Deolet (Bel) |
Starters: ??? / Finishers: 25 Average Speed: 29.170 km/h |
|
P-R 1928
P-R 1930
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