Paris-Roubaix podium history | 1896 edition | 1898 edition
Les Woodland's book Paris-Roubaix: The Inside Story - All the bumps of cycling's cobbled classic is available as an audiobook here. For the print and Kindle eBook versions, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
The 1897 Paris-Roubaix was 280 km long and raced at an average speed of 28.124 km/hr.
32 Professional and 26 amateur riders started.
The streets were wet at the start of the race, but the sun came out at the start.
Maurice Garin and Mathieu Cordang entered the Roubaix velodrome together.
Cordang fell from his bike in the velodrome, remounted and chased Garin, and closed to within two meters after the six laps around the track.
The riders were given the same time with Garin credited with crossing the line 2 meters ahead of Cordang.
Garin is listed as French, but it is possible he was Italian and didn't become a French citizen until 1901
1897 Paris-Roubaix Winner Maurice Garin at what looks like before the start of the race.
Winner Maurice Garin at the finish of the race.
Complete results:
*Amateur rider