| Neo-Pro Beats the Veterans
The 34th edition of Paris-Roubaix was held on April 16, 1933.
An international field of 134 riders came to the start line in Porte Maillot Paris. When honorary starter, world boxing champion Marcel Thil, dropped the flag the race proceeded from the depart fictif for a 10 km in a “neutral zone”. At the depart réel (actual start) in Argenteuil the race officially started.
Race Status:
An elite selection broke away after the “Hill Preme” at Cormeilles (30 km / 255 km). The group included Sylvere Maes (Bel-Alcyon), Georges Speicher (Fra-Alcyon), Antoine Magne (Fra- France-Sport), Julien Vervaecke (Bel- Labor), and Karl Thallinger (Aut-Oscar Egg). The surprise of the group was young Belgian Maes.
Alertly, the peloton chased hard and reconnected with the leaders in Beauvais (68 km / 255 km).
Vervaecke knew Maes’ strength and attacked the breakaway over the Doullens hill (160 km / 255 km). He managed to drop Magne and Thallinger, but Maes held the wheel.
At the race-control station in Arras (193 km / 255 km), the breakaway’s gap to the peloton stood at 4’00”. An alert-bell rang in the chasing group. Their tempo increased.
Through the cobbled sections after Arras (202 km / 255 km), Maes began to struggle but managed to reconnect with Vervaecke.
The two rode into Roubaix together.
The wily veteran Vervaecke used every trick he knew to get rid of the pesky young Belgian. Maes held the wheel. With the chase group closing quickly Maes jumped away on the Avenue des Villas to gain a huge victory.
Belgian Sylvere Maes
Léon Le Calvez (Fra-Lutetia) won the field sprint for third place.
A young neo-pro named Sylvere Maes (Bel) gained the first major victory of his storied career.
P-R April 16, 1933 |
255 Km, Porte Maillot Paris to Roubaix (Ave des Villas)
|
1.
Sylvere MAES (Bel) 6h59'36” |
2.
Julien Vervaecke (Bel) |
3.
Leon Le Calvez (Fra) +1'48" |
Starters: 134 / Finishers: 44 Average Speed: 36.523 km/h |
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P-R 1932
P-R 1934
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