April 4, 2011 by Irish Peloton
World Champion Classic Winners
Having faded towards the end of the Tour of Flanders last weekend, Thor Hushovd will want to bounce back in the best way possible at Paris-Roubaix this Sunday. His team manager was at a loss to explain his lack of form at a stage of the season when he is usually at the peak of his powers.
Nevertheless, Hushovd will be aiming to become the first World Champion to win the Hell of the North since Bernard Hinault in 1981. Just for the record, contrary to common belief, this is not the only time that Hinault rode this race. Although it makes for a great story that he hated Paris-Roubaix, rode it once and won it once just to prove that he wasn’t soft, it simply isn’t true. He’s actually ridden it five times consecutively from 1978-1982 and he finished 13th, 11th, 4th, 1st and 9th in those years.
I’ve written a lengthy post before about the history of World Champions in Paris-Roubaix, so I won’t repeat myself. Instead, here’s a run down of the last time a World Champion won each of the major classics.
Milan-San Remo
Giuseppe Saronni – 1983
via dewielersite.net
Ghent-Wevelgem
Rik van Looy – 1962
via rapha.cc
Tour of Flanders
Tom Boonen – 2006
via cyclingnews.com
Paris-Roubaix
Bernard Hinault – 1981
via ciclismobrasil
Liege-Bastogne-Liege
Moreno Argentin – 1987
via 2.bp.blogspot.com
Fleche Wallone
Cadel Evans – 2010
via cyclingnews.com
Amstel Gold
Bernard Hinault – 1981
via amstelgoldrace.nl
Tour of Lombardy
Paolo Bettini – 2006
via cyclingnews.com
Dave Bourke - April 5, 2011 @ 10:42 am
Was that Roche in Liege shot? He was all over 1987 like a rash. Cadel did the rainbow great justice at last years Fleche Wallone. He just devoured that finishing climb (mur de hoy?)
irishpeloton - April 5, 2011 @ 12:48 pm
@Dave That’s Roche yeah. He should have won it that year too, only he made a bollicks of it. Great recap of it here: http://www.cyclesportmag.com/features/1987-liege-bastogne-liege/