| Claes Surprises the “Unbeatable" Superstar
The 44th edition of Paris-Roubaix was held on Sunday, April 21, 1946.
Belgian George Claes (Rochet), a solid road rider, was not among the favorites for the 1946 Paris-Roubaix victory. Tour of Flanders winner Rik Van Steenbergen (Mercier) coming off an incredibly strong early spring schedule was tabbed by the experts as “unbeatable”.
Over the early kms a strong headwind made breakaway attempts impossible. The peloton remained compact.
Race Status:
Misfortune came early for Van Steenbergen in Esquenoy (95 km / 246 km), when a puncture dropped him from the peloton. After a hard 40 km chase a second mechanical failure forced the “unbeatable” Van Steenbergen to stop again… he abandoned the race.
On the climb of the Doullens Hill (152 km / 246 km), Paul Neri (France Sport) went first over the top followed by Georges Claes (Rochet), and Albert Dolhats (Peugeot) held a 3’34” lead.
Into Arras (190 km / 246 km), the trio succumbed to the headwind and the peloton regrouped.
A peloton of 30-riders passed Wattignies (224 km / 246 km).
At the control station in Lesquin (229 km / 246 km), Claes (Rochet), Louis Gauthier (Mercier), and Roger Le Nizerhy (Mercier) moved away from an elite chase group.
The three-rider breakaway held a slim lead riding into Roubaix and entered the velodrome to contest the sprint. George Claes launched a huge attack with one lap of the track to go. The Belgian sprinted to a 2-meter victory over Frenchman Louis Gauthier.
A Jubilant George Claes!
P-R April 21, 1946 |
246 Km, St. Denis (north of Paris) to Roubaix (Velodrome)
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1.
George CLAES Sr (Bel) 7h13'25” |
2.
Louis Gauthier (Fra) |
3.
Lucien Vlaeminck (Bel) |
Starters: 222 (?) / Finishers: 50 Average Speed: 34.055 km/h |
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P-R 1945 P-R 1947
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