Paris-Roubaix podium history | 1945 edition | 1943 edition
Les Woodland's book The Olympics' 50 Craziest Stories: A Five Ring Circus 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 1944 Paris-Roubaix was 246 km long and raced at an average speed of 39.897 km/hr.
There were 172 starters and 89 classified finishers.
The racers enjoyed mild and sunny weather.
With 20 kilometers to go, six men were off the front. They were delayed for 20 seconds by a closed train crossing, allowing another five riders to join them.
1937 Paris-Roubaix winner Jules Rossi had teammate Lucien Vlaemynck give him a leadout, but Maurice De Sempelaere went flashing by the confident Italian.
Germany still occupied France in April of 1944 and journalists returning home from the finish were bombed. 1947 Tour de France winner Jean Robic crashed badly, suffering a fractured skull and from then on wore his famous leather helmet.
Maurice De Simpelaere does a victory lap on the Roubaix velodrome.
Complete Results: