Paris-Roubaix podium history | 1973 edition | 1971 edition

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The Race:

The 1972 Paris-Roubaix was 272.5 km long and raced at an average speed of 36.817 km/hr

There were 160 starters and 49 classified finishers

The riders were hit with both a strong headwind and very cold rain; perfect flahute [very tough, hard man] weather.

As the peloton went through the Arenberg Forest a giant crash took out more than a few riders, among them Eddy Merckx.

Twenty-three kilometers from the finish Roger de Vlaeminck left the small group that was chasing escapee Willy van Malderghem, who looked to be riding away with the race. De Vlaeminck caught and passed van Malderghem and won with a nearly two-minute gap.

 

Winner Roger de Vlaeminck on his way to victory in Roubaix.

Complete Results:

1. Roger de Vlaeminck (Dreher) 7hr 24min 5sec.

2. André Dierickx (Flandria-Beaulieu) @ 1min 57sec
3. Barry Hoban (Gan-Mercier) @ 2min 13sec
4. Willy Teirlinck (Sonolor) @ 2min 34sec
5. Willy van Malderghem (Watney-Avia) @ 2min 36sec
6. Gustav van Roosbroeck (Watney-Avia) @ 2min 39sec
7. Eddy Merckx (Molteni) s.t.
8. Eddy Peelman (Gan-Mercier) s.t.
9. Ole Ritter (Dreher) s.t.
10. Raymond Poulidor (Gan-Mercier) s.t.
11. Roger Rosiers (Bic) s.t.
12. Roger Swerts (Molteni) s.t.
13. Gerben Karstens (Rokado) s.t.
14. Cyrille Guimard (Gan-Mercier) @ 4min 40sec
15. Karl-Heinz Muddemann (Rokado) s.t.
16. Wilfried Peffgen (Rokado) s.t.
17. Leif Mortensen (Bic) s.t.
18. Enrico Paolini (SCIC) s.t.
19. Herman van Springel (Molteni) s.t.
20. Julien Stevens (Dreher) s.t.
21. Julien van Lint (Dreher) s.t.
22. Albert van Vlierberghe (Ferretti) s.t.
23. Christian Callens (Novy-Dubble Bubble) @ 7min 31sec
24. Adriano Passuello (Dreher) s.t.
25. Christian Raymond (Peugeot) s.t.
26. Daniel Verplancke (Flandria-Beaulieu) s.t.
27. Michel Périn (Gan-Mercier) s.t.
28. Wim Schepers (Rokado) @ 7min 37sec
29. Alfons Scheys (Goldor-Ijsboerke) @ 9min 10sec
30. Lucien Aimar (Rokado) @ 9min 34sec
31. Gérard Vianen (Goudsmit-Hoff) @ 11min 7sec
32. Guido Reybroeck (Salvarani) s.t.
33. Englebert Opdebeeck (Watney-Avia) s.t.
34. Marino Basso (Salvarani) s.t.
35. Miguel-Maria Lasa (KAS) s.t.
36. Georges Pintens (Van Cauter-Magniflex-De Gribaldy) s.t.
37. Jozef Spruyt (Molteni) s.t.
38. Jos Van der Vleuten (Goudsmit-Hoff) @ 11min 50sec
39. Yves Hézard (Sonolor) s.t.
40. Jean-Luc Molinéris (Sonolor) @ 19min 37sec
41. Georges Chappe (Gitane) s.t.
42. Raymond Riotte (Sonolor) @ 19min 56sec
43. Robert Mintkiewicz (Sonolor) @ 20min 0sec
44. Emile Bodart (Watney-Avia) s.t.
45. Walter Plackaert (Watney-Avia) s.t.
46. Alain Vasseur (Bic) s.t.
47. Leo Duyndam (Goudsmit-Hoff) @ 21min 32sec
48. Ludo Van der Linden (Molteni) @ 22min 32sec
49. Herman Van der Slagmolen (Flandria-Beaulieu) s.t