81st Paris-Roubaix 1983 (France)

Top 20 All Time Major Classics #11

A Determined Kuiper Would NOT be Denied

The brutal cobbled section in the Arenberg Forest returned to the 1983 Paris-Roubaix.  The “Five Star” cobbled section (toughest category) provided the launching pad for three time P-R champion Francesco Moser.

Moser’s attack formed a nine rider breakaway. A series of crashes slowed Hennie Kupier and eliminated Stephen Roche, Paul Sherwen, and Marc Madiot. Moser and Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle were alone at the front. 

A re-grouping of five riders formed the final breakaway group with Hennie Kupier prominently place in the group. Kuiper fearing Moser’s sprint attacked 16 kms from Roubaix. Moser and Duclos-Lassalle marked each other closely and allowed Kuiper to open a gap.

Disaster struck with 6 kms to go when Kuiper hit a pothole on the wet cobbles at Hem. The Dutchman crashed and broke a wheel. When his team car was delayed Kuiper began to panic. The team support nervously fumbled with the wheel change and Kuiper grabbed a spare bike and continued. By the time he remounted his lead had fallen to a minute and a half. 

A determined Hennie Kuiper would not be caught. He entered the velodrome alone and crossed the finish line for a 1’15” victory.

SPECIAL NOTE: Kupier’s late crash became a legendary P-R tale. The residents of Hem honored Kupier with a monument at the end of the cobbles at Hem to commemorate his 1983 Paris-Roubaix victory.

P-R 1982

P-R 1984

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