James Witherell's book Bicycle History: A Chronological History of People, Races and Technology is available in both print and Kindle eBook formats. To get your copy just click on the Amazon link on the right.
The race:
Paris-Brussels (Paris-Bruxelles in French) started out as a spring race. The early editions were run in April and, in the fashion of the era, were staggeringly long. With the exception of the first three editions, before 1926 the race was always over 400 kilometers long.
In 1910 Octave Lapize and six others were relegated for not honoring a neutral zone. Maurice Brocco, who finished 8th, was awarded first place.
Paris-Brussels was not held from 1967 to 1972. After the 1967-1972 hiatus the race was moved to the end of the season. With its September place on the calender, the race generally conflicted with the Vuelta a España.
In June of 2013, Paris-Brussels underwent a big change. It became The Brussels Cycling Classic and is now run entirely within the borders of Belgium, starting and ending in Brussels.
The 2014 edition had 19 climbs.
Robbie McEwen holds the Paris-Brussels win record with 5 victories.
The race is now run in late spring.
Complete podium history:
Year |
1st place |
2nd Place |
3rd Place |
Distance |
Average Speed |
1893 | Henry André 19hr 50min |
Charles Debecque @ 34min |
Fernand Augenault @ 1hr 58min |
397 km | 20.02 |
1894-1905 | Race not held | ||||
1906 | Albert Dupont 15hr 18sec |
Jules Patou @ 18min 44sec |
Guillaume Coeckelbergh @ s.t. |
391 km 2 stages |
26.06 |
1907 | Gustave Garrigou 14hr 32min |
Charles Crupelandt 1min 24sec |
Robert Wancourt @ 1min 52sec |
391 km | 26.90 |
1908 | Lucien Petit-Breton 15hr 4min 8sec |
Cyrille Van Hauwaert @ s.t. |
Louis Trousselier @ 11min 31sec |
410 | 27.21 |
1909 | François Faber 13hr 29min |
Gustave Garrigou @ s.t. |
Eugène Christophe
@ 40sec |
405 km | 30.04 |
1910 | Maurice Brocco 14hr 36min 30sec |
Octave Lapize | Cyrille Van Hauwaert | 405 km | 27.72 |
1911 | Octave Lapize 13hr 52min |
François Faber @ s.t. |
Charles Crupelandt @ s.t. |
405 km | 29.21 |
1912 | Octave Lapize 15hr 1min 20sec |
Louis Lugnet @ s.t. |
Oscar Egg @ s.t. |
425 km | 28.29 |
1913 | Octave Lapize 15hr 11min 57sec |
Cyrille Van Hauwaert @ s.t. |
Charles Cropelandt @ st.t |
440 km | 28.95 |
1914 | Louis Mottiat 15hr 11min 57sec |
Louis Heusghem @ 10sec |
Joseph Van Daele @ 2min 27sec |
440 km | 28.95 |
1915-1918 | Race not held | ||||
1919 | Alexis Michiels 17hr 24min 13sec |
Emile Masson @ s.t. |
Francis Pélissier @ 47sec |
417 km | 23.96 |
1920 | Henri Pélissier 16hr 15min |
Louis Mottiat @ s.t. |
René Vermandel @ 4min 35sec |
420 km | 25.85 |
1921 | Robert Reboul 16hr 45min 15sec |
Arthur Claerhout @ 1min 45sec |
Alphonse Van Haecke @ 2min 50sec |
412 km | 24.59 |
1922 | Félix Sellier 15hr 29min 45sec |
Laurent Seret @ 2min 35sec |
René Vermandel @ 3min 30sec |
410 km | 25.46 |
1923 | Félix Sellier 16hr 11min 25sec |
Maurice De Waele @ 18min 54sec |
Alphonse Van Haecke @ 25min 5sec |
405 km | 25.08 |
1924 | Félix Sellier 15hr 27min 10sec |
Gérard Debaets @ 4sec |
Marcel Colleu @ 2min 6sec |
424 km | 27.44 |
1925 | Gérard Debaets 15hr 45min 25sec |
Adelin Benoit @ s.t. |
Nicolas Frants @ 29sec |
407 km | 25.83 |
1926 | Denis Verschueren 14hr 43min |
Joseph Van Dam @ s.t. |
Félix Sellier @ s.t. |
402 km | 27.32 |
1927 | Nicolas Frantz 13h 47min 20sec |
Marcel Huot @ s.t. |
Maurice De Waele @ 7min 50sec |
388 km | 28.14 |
1928 | Georges Ronsse 13hr 29min 26sec |
Nicolas Frantz @ s.t. |
Hubert Opperman @ s.t. |
375 km | 28.10 |
1929 | Pé Verhaegen 12hr 18min |
Maurice De Waele @ 36sec |
Nicolas Frantz @ s.t. |
366 km | 29.76 |
1930 | Ernest Mottard 11hr 27min |
Joseph Demuysere @ 3min 30sec |
Leander Ghyssels @ 4min 25sec |
366 km | 31.97 |
1931 | Jean Aerts 11hr 13min |
Frans Bonduel @ s.t. |
Romain Ghyssels @ s.t. |
347 km | 30.94 |
1932 | Julien Vervaecke 11hr 25min |
Gérard Loncke @ 9min 45sec |
Georges Ronsse @ s.t. |
376 km | 32.93 |
1933 | Albert Barthelemy 11hr 0min |
Alphonse Ghesquieres @ s.t. |
Gerhard Esser @ s.t. |
383 km | 34.36 |
1934 | Frans Bonduel 11hr 17min 40sec |
Edgard De Caluwe @ s.t. |
Romain Maes @ s.t. |
393 km | 34.80 |
1935 | Edgard De Caluwe 11hr 47min |
Louis Hardiquest @ s.t. |
Frans Bonduel @ 5min |
380 km | 32.25 |
1936 | Eloi Meulenberg 10hr 45min 43sec |
Frans Bonduel @ s.t. |
Louis Hardiquest @ s.t. |
394 km | 35.68 |
1937 | Albert Beckaert 10hr 41min 42sec |
Frans Bonduel @ 1min 3sec |
Jules Lowie @ 1min 11sec |
380 km | 35.53 |
1938 | Marcel Kint 11hr 30min 25sec |
Romain Maes @ 20 meters |
Léon Louyet | 397 km | 34.50 |
1939 | Frans Bonduel 7hr 56min 23sec |
Albert Hendrickx @ 1min 17sec |
Lucien Storme @ s.t. |
318 km | 40.05 |
1940-1945 | Race not held | ||||
1946 | Briek Schotte 8hr 31min |
Sylvain Grysolle @ 4min 21sec |
André Declerck @ 6min 12sec |
318 km | 37.34 |
1947 | Ernest Sterckx 9hr 40min 2sec |
Maurice Desimpelaere @ s.t. |
Alphonse Devreese @ s.t. |
325 km | 33.62 |
1948 | Lode Poels 10hr 0min |
Albert Sercu @ s.t. |
Jean Bogaerts @ s.t. |
325 km | 32.5 |
1949 | Maurice Diot 8hr 51min 52sec |
Emmanuel Thoma @ s.t. |
Jesus Moujica @ s.t. |
326 km | 36.78 |
1950 | Rik Van Steenbergen 9hr 2min 48sec |
Guy Lapebie @ s.t. |
Karel De Baere @ s.t. |
326 km | 36.04 |
1951 | Jean Gueguen 8hr 21min 58sec |
Bernard Gauthier @16sec |
Jean Baldassari @ 26sec |
326 km | 38.97 |
1952 | Briek Schotte 8hr 22min 43sec |
Marcel Dussault @ 10sec |
Roger Decorte @ s.t. |
326 km | 35.29 |
1953 | Loretto Petrucci 8hr 32min 53sec |
Briek Schotte @ s.t. |
Lode Anthonis @ s.t. |
302 km | 35.33 |
1954 | Marcel Hendrickx 8hr 31min 38sec |
Germain Derijcke @ 2sec |
Ferdi Kübler | 302 km | 35.42 |
1955 | Marcel Hendrickx 9hr 14min 54sec |
Gilbert Scodeller @ s.t. |
Germain Derijcke @ s.t. |
307 km | 33.20 |
1956 | Rik Van looy 8hr 59min 12sec |
Bernard Gauthier @ 44sec |
Rik Van Steenbergen @ 49sec |
291 km | 32.38 |
1957 | Léon Van Daele 8hr 55sec |
Raymond Impanis @ s.t. |
Jan Andriaensens @ s.t. |
291 km | 36.80 |
1958 | Rik Van looy 7hr 2min 35sec |
Pino Cerami @ 7sec |
Armand Desmet @ 10sec |
287 km | 40.75 |
1959 | Frans Schoubben 8hr 16min 8sec |
Willy Vannitsen @ 57sec |
Miguel Poblet @ s.t. |
287 km | 34.95 |
1960 | Pierre Everaert 7hr 34min 12sec |
André Darrigade @ 1min 23sec |
Jean Graczyk @ s.t. |
289 km | 34.18 |
1961 | Pino Cerami 6hr 45min |
Gilbert Desmet @ 38sec |
Frans Schoubben @ s.t. |
291 km | 43.11 |
1962 | Joseph Wouters 8hr 9min 15sec |
Noël Fore @ s.t. |
Martin Geneugden @ s.t. |
289 km | 35.41 |
1963 | Jean Stablinski 6hr 52min 21sec |
Tom Simpson @ 5sec |
Peter Post @ 48sec |
289 km | 42.05 |
1964 | Georges Vanconingsloo 7hr 5min 43sec |
Rik Van Looy @ s.t. |
Benoni Beheyt @ s.t. |
286 km | 40.31 |
1965 | Edward Sels 6hr 48min 28sec |
Roger Verheyden @ s.t. |
Willy Bocklant @ 4sec |
286 km | 42.01 |
1966 | Felice Gimondi 6hr 32min 58sec |
Willy Planckaert @ 25sec |
Rik Van Looy @ s.t. |
286 km | 43.67 |
1967-1972 | Race not held | ||||
1973 | Eddy Merckx 7hr 4min |
Frans Verbeeck @ 4sec |
Rik Van Linden @ s.t. |
294 km | 41.60 |
1974 | Marc Demeyer 6hr 47min |
Roger De Vlaeminck @ 6sec |
Roger Rosiers @ 15sec |
287 km | 42.38 |
1975 | Freddy Maertens 6hr 11min 30sec |
Eddy Merckx @ 2sec |
André Dierickx @ 5sec |
285.5 km | 46.11 |
1976 | Felice Gimondi 7hr 28min |
Hennie Kuiper @ 20sec |
Antoon Houbrechts @ 22sec |
312 km | 41.79 |
1977 | Ludo Peeters 7ht 7min |
Marc Demeyer @ 7sec |
Bernard Hinault @ s.t. |
286.5 km | 40.26 |
1978 | Jan Raas 5hr 0min |
Gerrie Knetemann @ s.t. |
Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke @ s.t. |
||
1979 | Ludo Peeters 6hr 35min 40sec |
André Derickx @ 40sec |
Martin Havic @ s.t. |
286.5 km | 43.45 |
1980 | Pierino Gavazzi 7hr 3min |
Marc Demeyer @ s.t. |
Jean-Philippe Vandenbrande @ s.t. |
286 km | 40.57 |
1981 | Roger de Vlaeminck 7hr 0min |
Jan Raas @ s.t. |
Jan Bogaert @ s.t. |
286.5 km | 40.93 |
1982 | Jacques Hanegraff 7hr 11min |
Pascal Jules @ 1sec |
Johan Van Der Velde @ 3sec |
286 km | 39.80 |
1983 | Tommy Prim 7hr 31min |
Daniel Rossel @ 3sec |
Ralf Hofeditz @ s.t. |
301 km | 40.04 |
1984 | Eric Vanderaerden 7hr 17min |
Charly Mottet @ s.t. |
Eric Van Lancker @ s.t. |
301 km | 42.0 |
1985 | Adri Van Der Poel 7hr 54min 25sec |
Jean-Philippe Vandenbrande @ s.t. |
Pierino Gavazzi @ 28sec |
301 km | 40.11 |
1986 | Guido Bontempi 8hr 37min |
Sean Kelly @ 3sec |
Johan Capiot @ s.t. |
301 km | 35.98 |
1987 | Wim Arras 7hr 58min 25sec |
Joseph Lieckens @ s.t. |
Eric Vanderaerden @ s.t. |
309 km | 38.75 |
1988 | Rolf Golz 7hr 43min 40sec |
Laurent Fignon @ s.t. |
Marnix Lameire @ 19se |
293 km | 37.91 |
1989 | Jelle Nijdam 7hr 50min |
Calo Bomans @ s.t. |
Marcel Wust @ s.t. |
294 km | 37.53 |
1990 | Franco Ballerini 6hr 7min |
Michel Dernies @ s.t. |
Danny Neskens @ 6sec |
246 km | 40.22 |
1991 | Brain Holm 6hr 3min 10sec |
Olaf Ludwig @ 7sec |
Johan Museeuw @ s.t. |
246 km | 40.64 |
1992 | Rolf Sorensen 6hr 34min |
Frans Maasen @ s.t. |
Phil Anderson @ 8sec |
246 km | 39.37 |
1993 | Francis Moreau 6hr 8min 9sec |
Jelle Nijdam @ 7min 5sec |
Johan Museeuw @ s.t. |
251 km | 40.40 |
1994 | Rolf Sorensen 5hr 40min 30sec |
Franco Ballerini @ 10sec |
Sean Yates @ 17sec |
251 km | 45.29 |
1995 | Frank Vandenbroucke 5hr 53min |
Frank Corvers @ s.t. |
Rolf sorensen @ 1sec |
252 km | 42.81 |
1996 | Andre Tafi 6hr 15min |
Johan Museeuw @ 51sec |
Michele Bartoli @ s.t. |
251 km | 40.16 |
1997 | Alessandro Bertolini 6hr 18min |
Andrei Tchmil @ 2sec |
Andrea Tafi @ s.t. |
256 km | 40.59 |
1998 | Stefano Zannini 5hr 48min |
Mirko Celestino @ s.t. |
Michele Bartoli @ 3sec |
256 km | 44.17 |
1999 | Romans Vainsteins 5hr 59min |
Beat Zberg @ s.t. |
Fabio Baldato @ 8sec |
260.4 km | 42.869 |
2000 | Max van Heeswijk 5hr 35min 36sec |
Frank Hoj @ s.t. |
Ludovic Capelle @ s.t. |
249.6 km | 44.462 |
2001 | Emmanuel Mangnien 5hr 47min |
Nico Eeckhout @ s.t. |
Romans Vainsteins @ s.t. |
249 km |
41.50 |
2002 | Robbie McEwen 7hr 18min 53sec |
Olaf Pollack @ s.t. |
Jans Koerts @ s.t. |
266 km |
36.912 |
2003 | Kim Kirchen 5hr 19min |
Laszlo Bodrogi @ 1sec |
Maryan Hary @ 4sec |
226 km |
42.51 |
2004 | Nick Nuyens 4hr 59min |
Philippe Gilbert @ 1sec |
Allan Johansen @ 2sec |
225 km |
45.15 |
2005 | Robbie McEwen 4hr 52min |
Stefan Van Dijk @ s.t. |
Jean-Patrick Nazon @ s.t. |
219 km |
44.79 |
2006 | Robbie McEwen 5hr 30min 39sec |
Tom Boonen @ s.t. |
Steven De Jongh @ s.t. |
219.1 km | 39.74 |
2007 | Robbie McEwen 4hr 53min |
Jeremy Hunt @ s.t. |
Honorio Machado Perez @ s.t. |
219.1 km | 44.75 |
2008 | Robbie McEwen 5hr 30min 13sec |
Gert Steegmans @ s.t. |
Luca Paolini @ s.t. |
221 km |
40.16 |
2009 | Matthew Harley Goss 5hr 48min 35sec |
Allan Davis @ s.t. |
Kristof Goddaert @ s.t. |
221 km |
37.695 |
2010 | Francisco José Ventoso 4hr 56min 50sec |
Romain Feillu @ s.t. |
Stefan Van Dijk @ s.t. |
218.5 km | 44.166 |
2011 | Denis Galimzyanov 4hr 51min 35sec |
Yauheni Hutarovich @ s.t. |
Anthony Ravard @ s.t. |
219.5 km | 45.167 |
2012 | Tom Boonen 4hr 55min 59sec |
Mark Renshaw @ s.t. |
Oscar Freire @ s.t. |
216.8 km |
43.95 |
2013 | André Greipel 4hr 55min 58sec |
John Degenkolb @ s.t. |
Nacer Bouhanni @ s.t. |
200 km |
40.545 |
2014 | André Greipel 4hr 41min 2sec |
Elia Viviani @ s.t. |
Arnaud Demare @ s.t. |
201 km |
42.913 |
2015 | Dylan Groenewegen 4hr 47min 58sec |
Roy Jans @ s.t. |
Tom Boonen @ s.t. |
199.8 km |
41.63 |
2016 | Tom Boonen 4hr 35min 10sec |
Arnaud Démare @ s.t. |
Nacer Bouhanni @ s.t. |
199.3 km |
43.457 km/hr |
2017 | Arnaud Démare 4hr 39min 47sec |
Marko Kump @ s.t. |
André Greipel @ s.t. |
201.3 | 43.169 km/hr |
2018 | Pascal Ackermann 4hr 35min 12sec |
Jasper Stuyven @ s.t. |
Thomas Boudat @ 1sec |
201.0 km |
43.82 km/hr |
2019 | Caleb Ewan 4hr 25min 35sec |
Pascal Ackermann @ s.t. |
Jasper Philipsen @ s.t. |
190.5 km |
43.037 km/hr |
2020 | Tim Merlier 4hr 48min 39sec |
Davide Ballerini @ s.t. |
Nacer Bouhanni @ s.t. |
204 km |
42.404 km/hr |
2021 | Remco Evenepoel 4hr 28min 30sec |
Aimé de Gendt @ 50sec |
Tosh Van der Sande @ 2min 14sec |
204.8 km |
45.765 km/hr |
2022 | Taco van der Hoorn 4hr 45min 3sec |
Thimo Willems @ s.t. |
Tobias Bayer @ s.t. |
203.9 km |
42.919 km/hr |
2023 | Arnaud Démare 4hr 41min 50sec |
Tobias Lund Andresen @ s.t. |
Jordi Meeus @ s.t. |
207.1 km |
44.087 km/hr |
2024 | Jonas Abrahamsen 4hr 53min 23sec |
Biniam Girmay @ 4sec |
Kaden Groves @ s.t. |
218.2 km | 44.624 km/hr |
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