WW2 Overshadows a Great P-R Effort in 1939
The 40th edition of Paris-Roubaix was held on Sunday, April 9, 1939.
Political tensions continued to worsen as Paris-Roubaix commenced. World champion Marcel Kint (Bel) led the list of favorites for victory.
When the honorary start, French aviator Michel Détroyat, dropped the flag, the race flew off from Porte Maillot, Paris. Roger Lapebie (Mercier) escaped with 10 riders. The group built a solid lead in the early kms.
Race Status:
Relentless attacking throughout the race thinned the peloton, but no final breakaway was allowed to form.
20 kilometers from the finish *, Emile Masson at the front of the race, suffered a puncture. While he was changing the wheel, several riders overtook him.
Jean Majerus and Roger Lapebie established a solid lead through the cobbles at Wattignies. A group of 14 chased hard but could not close the gap.
Masson managed to remount and catch up to the 14. Quickly, he jumped ahead to catch Majerus and Lapebie and without hesitation Masson blew right past the two leaders.
The Mercier-Hutchinson chasing group included Marcel Kint (Bel), Roger Lapebie (Fra), Maurice Archambaud (Fra) and Cyriel Van Overberghe (Bel), but progress became difficult when Masson’s pace held the gap.
The leader’s pace was brutal, but with the victory in sight the effort increased.
A tiring Emile Masson managed to hold off the Team Mercier chase and came around the final corner onto the Avenue Gustave Delory solo to earn the victory.
Marcel Kint won the field sprint 1'30” behind Masson.
SPECIAL NOTE: * In 2005, Emile Masson jr (Bel) had a commemorative plaque inlaid at the place (20 kilometers from the finish) of his untimely puncture in 1939.
P-R April 9, 1939 |
262 Km, Porte Maillot Paris to Roubaix (Ave Gustave Delory)
|
1.
Emile MASSON jr (Bel) 7h17'30” |
2.
Marcel Kint (Bel) +1'30” |
3.
Roger Lapebie (Fra) |
Starters: 172 / Finishers: 69 Average Speed: 35.934 km/h |
|
P-R 1938
P-R 1943
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