Paris-Roubaix podium history | 1996 edition | 1998 edition
James Witherell's book Bicycle History: A Chronological History of People, Races and Techology is available in both print and Kindle eBook formats. Just click on the Amazon link on the right.
The race:
The 1997 Paris-Roubaix was 266.5 km long and raced at an average speed of 40.16 km/hr.
There were 177 starters and 75 classified finishers. Another two riders finished outside the time limit.
Frédéric Guesdon and Andrei Tchmil were away, but were caught by six others with about a kilometer to go, among them favorite Johan Musseuw (who suffered two flats in the last 40 kms).
Guesdon jumped on the final corner of the Roubaix velodrome sprint to win the 95th Paris-Roubaix.
Frédéric Guesdon takes the win. Sirotti photo
Complete Results: