Paris-Roubaix podium history | 1930 edition | 1932 edition
Les Woodland's book Dirty Feet: How the great unwashed created the Tour de France is available as an audiobook here. For the print and Kindle eBook versions, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
The race:
The 1931 Paris-Roubaix was 256 km long and raced at an average speed of 36.44 km/hr.
There were 102 starters and 51 classified finishers.
The riders were hit with very cold rain and a wind that broke the field into echelons.
Gaston Rebry, "The Bulldog", was a powerful rider, but completely lacked a sprint. He relentlessly pressured the peloton until he was alone (the only way he could win) after his last breakaway companion Emile Joly flatted shortly before the finish.
Belgium put nine riders in the top ten.
1931 Paris-Roubaix winner Gaston Rebry
Complete Results: