| Young Belgian Star Immerges
The 32nd edition of Paris-Roubaix was held on Easter Sunday April 5, 1931.
An international field of 102 riders came to the start line in Porte Maillot Paris. From the depart fictif the peloton rode for a 10 km in a “neutral zone”, and at the depart réel (actual start) in Argenteuil the race started. On a cold and rainy morning, the race took off at high speed. However, the extremely fast early pace failed to break up the peloton.
Race Status:
After the disappointment of P-R 1930, Jean Marechal (Lutetia) used the fast pace to win the first “preme” on the Cormeilles Hill and moved away from the peloton.
Jean Marechal leads in Amiens.
In Amiens (130 km / 255 km), the first elite to surrender to the fast pace and harsh weather was the very popular Frenchman Andre Leducq (Alcyon).
Just before the Doullens hill (160 km / 255 km), the race shattered with a lead group of five riders pulled away under the pressure of young Belgian Gaston Rebry (Alcyon).
The elite 5-rider breakaway, Rebry, Charles Pelissier (Génial Lucifer), Emile Decroix (Génial Lucifer), George Ronsse (La Francaise), and Emile Joly (Génial Lucifer) continued to pull away from the Marechal led chase group.
Through the tough cobbles north of Arras (202 km / 255 km), gaps in the breakaway began to slow. Notably, Charles Pelissier had reached his limit.
As the rain got heavier Rebry got stronger. 20 km from Roubaix Rebry's infernal pace had dropped everyone except Emile Joly (Bel).
Misfortune hit Joly in Lesquin (15 km from Roubaix / 255 km), when he suffered a puncture and had to stop for repairs.
Gaston Rebry rode a lone down the Avenue des Villas to claim the Paris-Roubaix victory.
The Avenue des Villas in Roubaix.
Gaston Rebry nicknamed the “Bulldog,” continued the Belgian dominance of Paris-Roubaix.
P-R April 5, 1931 |
255 Km, Porte Maillot Paris to Roubaix (Ave des Villas)
|
1.
Gaston REBRY (Bel) 7h01'41” |
2.
Charles Pelissier (Fra) +1'42" |
3.
Emile DeCroix (Bel) |
Starters: 102 / Finishers: 51 Average Speed: 36.340 km/h |
|
P-R 1930
P-R 1932
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