André Mahé (18 November 1919 – 19 October 2010[1]) was a French road bicycle racer. He was born in Paris, France. He was a professional rider from 1945 until 1954. He jointly won the 1949 classic cycle race Paris–Roubaix with Serse Coppi in controversial fashion. In 1950 he won the classic Paris–Tours race.
The result of the 1949 Paris–Roubaix took several months and two international conferences to sort out. André Mahé was first across the line, but his win was challenged on the grounds that he took the wrong course.
Mahé was in a break of three riders that reached the Roubaix Velodrome in the lead, but was misdirected by officials. Mahé, Jacques Moujica and Frans Leenen were desperate to get inside the stadium and cross the finish line before the next riders arrived. Moujica damaged his bike in the process, but Mahé and Leenen got into the stadium by a back door. André Mahé was first and was awarded the race. Or so it seemed.
Mahé acknowledged the crowds, took the bouquet, did a lap of honour and then headed to clean himself up at the track's showers.
A few minutes later the bunch arrived using the correct route and Serse Coppi, brother of the more famous Fausto, won the sprint for what was assumed to be, the minor placings. When the Coppi brothers heard about Mahé's unconventional approach to the finish they protested, demanding he be disqualified or demoted and that Serse be named as the winner.
The judges changed their minds and awarded Coppi the race. Five days later the French federation confirmed Mahé as the winner. The Italian federation then protested to the Union Cycliste Internationale and the dispute became international. The UCI's response (in August 1949) was to declare the race null - no winner. However, they agreed to review their decision at a conference in November of that year.
In November the Belgian federation sided with the Italians. After much internal politicking a compromise was reached. The final outcome - to reinstate the race and declare André Mahé and Serse Coppi as joint winners - was not popular with either side. The race was Serse Coppi's only classic win.
In a 2007 interview, André Mahé still maintained that he should have been awarded the race. He said of Fausto Coppi: "Coppi wanted his brother to have a big victory. He was a great champion, Coppi, but to do what he did - to protest like that to get a victory for his brother - that wasn't dignified for a champion. That was beneath him."[2]
Other resultsedit
Mahé made his mark in the professional peloton in his second year, 1946, by winning the Tour du Finistère and coming third in the classic Grand Prix des Nations time trial. He finished the Tour de France only once (in 1949), finishing 49th.
After his win at Roubaix he went on to win the classic Paris–Tours race the next year (1950). In 1952 he came third in Paris–Roubaix despite puncturing and having to change his tyre during the race.
He retired from racing in 1955.
Retirementedit
After retiring from cycling he went to work for his father-in-law's cable-making company in Paris. When the company moved to Compiègne in northern France (coincidentally, now the starting point of the Paris–Roubaix) he relocated to that area. After retiring he cut most of his links with cycling, apart from attending the Paris–Roubaix as a guest.
Bibliographyedit
Woodland, L. "Share Deal" - an interview with André Mahé about the 1949 Paris–Roubaix in Procycling Issue 97, April 2007
Referencesedit
^sport365 2011-07-26 at the Wayback Machine (French) retrieved 21st Oct 2010
^Woodland, Les. "Share Deal" an interview with André Mahé, Procycling, Issue 97, April 2007, pp. 74-5
Les Woodland on the 1949 Paris-Roubaix controversy at cyclingnews.com
April 18, 2024
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Andre Mahe 18 November 1919 19 October 2010 1 was a French road bicycle racer He was born in Paris France He was a professional rider from 1945 until 1954 He jointly won the 1949 classic cycle race Paris Roubaix with Serse Coppi in controversial fashion In 1950 he won the classic Paris Tours race Andre MaheMahe in 2007Personal informationFull nameAndre MaheBorn 1919 11 18 18 November 1919Paris FranceDied19 October 2010 2010 10 19 aged 90 Team informationDisciplineRoadRoleRiderRider typeClassics specialistProfessional teams1946 1947Metropole Dunlop1948 1950Stella Dunlop1951 1952Terrot1953Peugeot Dunlop1954Royal CodrixMajor winsParis Roubaix 1949 Paris Tours 1950 Contents 1 Major results 2 The story of the 1949 Paris Roubaix 3 Other results 4 Retirement 5 Bibliography 6 References 7 External linksMajor results edit1946 1st Tour du Finistere 3rd Grand Prix des Nations 1947 3rd Circuit de l Aulne 1st stage 1 Tour de l Ouest 2nd stage 1 Tour de France 1948 1st Circuit Maine Normandie Anjou 2nd Paris Nantes 2nd Tour de l Ouest 3rd Grand Prix du Pneumatique a Montlucon 1949 1st Paris Roubaix jointly with Serse Coppi 1st Grand Prix de l Equipe 1950 1st Paris Tours 2nd Grand Prix de L Echo d Alger 1951 1st Grand Prix de L Echo d Alger 2nd Paris Saint Amand Montrond 1952 1st Circuit des Deux Ponts a Montlucon 3rd Paris Roubaix 1953 1st Montsauche 3rd Boucles de la Gartempe 1st on stage 3 3rd Grand Prix du Maine 1954 1st Montsauche 1st HennebontThe story of the 1949 Paris Roubaix editThe result of the 1949 Paris Roubaix took several months and two international conferences to sort out Andre Mahe was first across the line but his win was challenged on the grounds that he took the wrong course Mahe was in a break of three riders that reached the Roubaix Velodrome in the lead but was misdirected by officials Mahe Jacques Moujica and Frans Leenen were desperate to get inside the stadium and cross the finish line before the next riders arrived Moujica damaged his bike in the process but Mahe and Leenen got into the stadium by a back door Andre Mahe was first and was awarded the race Or so it seemed Mahe acknowledged the crowds took the bouquet did a lap of honour and then headed to clean himself up at the track s showers A few minutes later the bunch arrived using the correct route and Serse Coppi brother of the more famous Fausto won the sprint for what was assumed to be the minor placings When the Coppi brothers heard about Mahe s unconventional approach to the finish they protested demanding he be disqualified or demoted and that Serse be named as the winner The judges changed their minds and awarded Coppi the race Five days later the French federation confirmed Mahe as the winner The Italian federation then protested to the Union Cycliste Internationale and the dispute became international The UCI s response in August 1949 was to declare the race null no winner However they agreed to review their decision at a conference in November of that year In November the Belgian federation sided with the Italians After much internal politicking a compromise was reached The final outcome to reinstate the race and declare Andre Mahe and Serse Coppi as joint winners was not popular with either side The race was Serse Coppi s only classic win In a 2007 interview Andre Mahe still maintained that he should have been awarded the race He said of Fausto Coppi Coppi wanted his brother to have a big victory He was a great champion Coppi but to do what he did to protest like that to get a victory for his brother that wasn t dignified for a champion That was beneath him 2 Other results editMahe made his mark in the professional peloton in his second year 1946 by winning the Tour du Finistere and coming third in the classic Grand Prix des Nations time trial He finished the Tour de France only once in 1949 finishing 49th After his win at Roubaix he went on to win the classic Paris Tours race the next year 1950 In 1952 he came third in Paris Roubaix despite puncturing and having to change his tyre during the race He retired from racing in 1955 Retirement editAfter retiring from cycling he went to work for his father in law s cable making company in Paris When the company moved to Compiegne in northern France coincidentally now the starting point of the Paris Roubaix he relocated to that area After retiring he cut most of his links with cycling apart from attending the Paris Roubaix as a guest Bibliography editWoodland L Share Deal an interview with Andre Mahe about the 1949 Paris Roubaix in Procycling Issue 97 April 2007References edit sport365 Archived 2011 07 26 at the Wayback Machine French retrieved 21st Oct 2010 Woodland Les Share Deal an interview with Andre Mahe Procycling Issue 97 April 2007 pp 74 5External links editAndre Mahe at Cycling Archives Palmares at memoire du cyclisme net permanent dead link Les Woodland on the 1949 Paris Roubaix controversy at cyclingnews com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Andre Mahe amp oldid 1172630592, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
