On Sunday, 17 April 1966, the 64th edition of the classic Paris–Roubaix race took place. Covering a distance of 262.5 km, the race started in Compiègne and finished in Roubaix. Of the 134 riders who lined up at the start, only 58 managed to reach the finish.
 |
| Felice Gimondi |
 |
| Raymond Poulidor and Rik Van Looy |
In bitterly cold and miserable weather, with freezing rain turning the roads into a sea of mud, the race became a gruelling battle of endurance. Despite the overwhelming Belgian presence in the field, which included the likes of Eddy Merckx, Rik Van Looy, Walter Godefroot, Edward Sels and Willy Planckaert, it was Italy’s Felice Gimondi who stole the show. With 35 kilometres remaining, he launched a decisive attack and broke away from the chasing group of Belgians. Knowing that he would stand little chance against them in a sprint finish, Gimondi pressed on, steadily extending his lead and leaving his Belgian rivals trailing behind.
 |
| Felice Gimondi |
 |
| Rik Van Looy and Eddy Merckx |
Complete results:
Pos |
Name |
Team |
Time |
01 |
Gimondi Felice (ITA) |
Salvarani |
0,29 |
02 |
Janssen Jan (NED) |
Pelforth - Sauvage - Lejeune |
0,17 |
03 |
De Smet Gustaaf (BEL) |
Wiel's - Groene Leeuw |
0,17 |
04 |
Planckaert Willy (BEL) |
Romeo - Smiths |
0,17 |
05 |
Huysmans Joseph (BEL) |
Dr. Mann - Grundig |
0,17 |
06 |
Altig Rudi (GER) |
Molteni |
0,17 |
07 |
Bocklant Willy (BEL) |
Dr. Mann - Grundig |
0,17 |
08 |
Decabooter Arthur (BEL) |
Wiel's - Groene Leeuw |
0,17 |
09 |
Van Looy Rik (BEL) |
Solo - Superia |
0,17 |
10 |
Karstens Gerben (NED) |
Televizier - Batavus |
0,17 |
11 |
Van De Kerckhove Bernard (BEL) |
Ford - Hutchinson |
0,17 |
12 |
de Roo Jo (NED) |
Televizier - Batavus |
0,18 |
13 |
Durante Adriano (ITA) |
Salvarani |
0,18 |
14 |
De Rosso Guido (ITA) |
Molteni |
0,18 |
15 |
Merckx Eddy (BEL) |
Peugeot - BP - Michelin |
0,18 |
16 |
Grain Michel (FRA) |
Ford - Hutchinson |
0,18 |
17 |
Brands Frans (BEL) |
Romeo - Smiths |
0,21 |
18 |
De Boever Jacques (BEL) |
Wiel's - Groene Leeuw |
0,21 |
19 |
Graczyk Jean (FRA) |
Ford - Hutchinson |
0,21 |
20 |
Godefroot Walter (BEL) |
Wiel's - Groene Leeuw |
0,21 |
21 |
Delberghe Edouard (FRA) |
Pelforth - Sauvage - Lejeune |
0,22 |
22 |
Spruyt Joseph (BEL) |
Mercier - BP - Hutchinson |
0,23 |
23 |
Molenaers Yvo (BEL) |
Romeo - Smiths |
0,26 |
24 |
Dancelli Michele (ITA) |
Molteni |
0,27 |
25 |
Desmet II Gilbert (BEL) |
Wiel's - Groene Leeuw |
0,27 |
26 |
Motta Gianni (ITA) |
Molteni |
0,27 |
27 |
Aimar Lucien (FRA) |
Ford - Hutchinson |
0,3 |
28 |
Vandenberghe Georges (BEL) |
Romeo - Smiths |
0,42 |
29 |
Zilverberg Hubertus (NED) |
Televizier - Batavus |
0,43 |
30 |
Post Peter (NED) |
Solo - Superia |
0,43 |
31 |
Foucher Andre (FRA) |
Pelforth - Sauvage - Lejeune |
0,43 |
32 |
Van Coningsloo Georges (BEL) |
Peugeot - BP - Michelin |
0,43 |
33 |
Sels Edward (BEL) |
Solo - Superia |
0,43 |
34 |
Annaert Jean-Claude (FRA) |
Ford - Hutchinson |
0,46 |
35 |
Le Greves Alain (FRA) |
Kamome - Dilecta |
0,46 |
36 |
Stevens Julien (BEL) |
Solo - Superia |
0,46 |
37 |
Genet Jean-Pierre (FRA) |
Mercier - BP - Hutchinson |
0,58 |
38 |
Bazire Francis (FRA) |
Peugeot - BP - Michelin |
0,59 |
39 |
Schleck Johny (LUX) |
Pelforth - Sauvage - Lejeune |
0,62 |
40 |
Novak Anatole (FRA) |
Ford - Hutchinson |
0,62 |
41 |
Den Hartog Arie (NED) |
Ford - Hutchinson |
0,62 |
42 |
Milliot Roger (FRA) |
Pelforth - Sauvage - Lejeune |
0,62 |
43 |
Van der Vleuten Jos (NED) |
Televizier - Batavus |
0,66 |
44 |
Zollinger Rudi (SWI) |
Tigra - Meltina |
0,66 |
45 |
Denson Vincent (GBR) |
Ford - Hutchinson |
0,67 |
46 |
Fantinato Bruno (ITA) |
Salvarani |
0,67 |
47 |
Braspennincx Piet (NED) |
Pelforth - Sauvage - Lejeune |
0,7 |
48 |
Geldermans Albert (NED) |
Molteni |
0,7 |
49 |
Baguet Roger (BEL) |
Solo - Superia |
0,73 |
50 |
Altig Willy (GER) |
Molteni |
0,89 |
51 |
Pesenti Vittorio (ITA) |
Salvarani |
0,91 |
52 |
Maliepaard Bas (NED) |
Televizier - Batavus |
0,91 |
53 |
Labrouille Daniel (FRA) |
Pelforth - Sauvage - Lejeune |
0,91 |
54 |
Salmon Daniel (FRA) |
Kamome - Dilecta |
1,22 |
55 |
Timmermans Jos (BEL) |
Wiel's - Groene Leeuw |
1,22 |
56 |
Herger Albert (SWI) |
- |
1,22 |
57 |
Messelis Andre (BEL) |
Dr. Mann - Grundig |
1,22 |
58 |
Nijdam Henk (NED) |
Televizier - Batavus |
1,22 |
Raymond Poulidor came in 17th, but was disqualified for an illegal bike change.
Video Clip (French)
Video Clip (French)
