Paris-Roubaix podium history | 1995 edition | 1997 edition
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The race:
The 1996 Paris-Roubaix was 263.5 km long and raced at an average speed of 43.32 km/hr.
There were 184 starters and 56 classified finishers. Another 14 riders finsihed outside the time limit.
This was the race's centenary edition, the first Paris-Roubaix was held in 1896.
With about 90 km to go Museeuw, Bortolami and Tafi (all Mapei-GB riders) escaped. With 15 km to go, Mapei company boss Giorgio Squinzi phoned Mapei team director Patrick Lefevre, instructing him to arrange a Johan Museeuw win.
Museeuw flatted, but Bortolami and Tafi waited and Mapei has its podium finish in the order Squinzi desired.
If Franco Ballerini had not suffered several ill-timed punctures, it would have been Mapei one through four.
A Mapei-GP podium. Sirotti photo
Complete Results: