56th Paris-Roubaix 1958 (France)

Sprint Fest

Defending Tour de France champion Jacques Anquetil came to Paris-Roubaix with the intention of winning his first classic. Aggressively Anquetil joined a twenty rider breakaway 200 km from Roubaix .

The lead group rode steadily away until a three riders, danger man was Noel Fore, escaped on the cobbled hill at Moncheaux. Only 21km to Roubaix and with his chance of victory fading Anquetil attacked.

A series of punctures and crashes slowed the breakaway as the re-grouping came with 3 km to go. Immediately Irish Shay Elliott and Belgian Roger Verplaetse attacked and entered the velodrome with a small gap on the sprinters.

The bell sounded for the final lap of the track. The sprinters set-up as powerful Leon Van Daele led out the sprint with Miguel Poblet and Rik Van Looy on his wheel.

Off the final turn Poblet started to close, but Van Daele held the gap for the prestigious victory. Leon Van Daele gained the biggest victory of his career.

P-R 1957

P-R 1959

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