Georges Claes was a great Belgian cyclist whose road accomplishments established his position in cycling history. Claes, born in Boutersem on January 7, 1920, was a professional cyclist from 1940 until 1953, with a brief hiatus during World War II.
Claes was a versatile rider who excelled in one-day classics and criteriums, but Paris-Roubaix was where he won the most races. In 1947 and 1948, he won the “Hell of the North” race, displaying his mettle on the cobblestones and mud of the difficult course. His triumph in the 1947 race is the stuff of folklore, as his bicycle frame broke 50 kilometers from the finish and a spectator loaned him a woman’s bicycle to finish the race. Claes persevered, fueled by 300 grams of sugar and seven bananas, and completed the 246-kilometer race in just over six hours.
Claes was also the runner-up in the Tour of Flanders in 1942 and the Belgian road race in 1943. In addition, he won the Brussels Cycling Classic, the Antwerp-Brussels-Antwerp, and the GP Briek Schotte.
In 1953, Claes resigned from professional cycling, but his impact endures. His son, also named Georges, followed in the footsteps of his father and became a competitive cyclist.
Georges Claes’s greatest accomplishments were:
| Year | Achievement |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Winner of Paris-Roubaix (first victory) |
| 1948 | Winner of Paris-Roubaix (second victory) |
| 1942 | Second place in Tour of Flanders |
| 1943 | Belgian road race runner-up |
| 1946 | Winner of Brussels Cycling Classic |
| 1952 | Winner of Antwerp-Brussels-Antwerp |
| 1949 | Winner of GP Briek Schotte |
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