Three-time Tour de France winner (1953, 1954, 1955) and French cycling legend Louison Bobet was a succesful rider also in the world of one-day races. In fact, he won four of the five monuments (Milano-Sanremo and Giro di Lombardia in 1951, Ronde van Vlaanderen in 1955 and Paris-Roubaix in 1956).
The 39th Ronde van Vlaanderen was held on 27 March 1955. It was 263 km long and included Kluisberg, Kruisberg, Edelareberg, Muur (Geraardsbergen). From the 203 starters, 47 cyclists arrived in the finish.
Rik Van Steenbergen was the favourite of the race. He went away with Louison Bobet, Bernard Gauthier and Hugo Koblet in Geraardsbergen.
They together had a 60 km long breakaway ride. Bobet and Gauthier, the other Fremch cyclist in this group were worked together for Bobet’s victory.
There was an incident with 15 km to go, when the four riders crossed a level-crossing with its barrier down. Because of this, Karel Debaere, who finished 5th, protested against the result, but his claims were rejected.
With his triumph, Louison Bobet became the first French cyclist to win Ronde van Vlaanderen.
MORE LOUISON BOBET ON PELOTONTALES
[su_posts posts_per_page=”7″ tax_term=”346″ order=”desc” orderby=”rand”]