{"id":17391,"title":"Pursuit Match","description":"The 1987 edition of Paris-Roubaix was settled in a drawn-out pursuit match. We look back at the race and the heroic actors that made it such an enthralling race.","content":"

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Published in<\/strong>: COBBLES & CLASSICS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

The 1987 edition of Paris-Roubaix was settled in a drawn-out pursuit match. We look back at the race and the heroic actors that made it such an enthralling encounter of the cycling monument.<\/p>

\"Patrick <\/a>Patrick Versluys with a gaze of determination. Image: The Mick Searle Collection<\/em><\/p>

A streak of blue and white flashes across the anthracite skyline like a comet illuminating the depths of night. Alone, the hunter has only his determination for company. Ahead, are three resolute souls whose ambition is equal to their pursuer's but tiredness is sapping their strength.<\/p>

Slowly but inexorably, Belgium's 'golden boy' Eric Vanderaerden is slowly reeling in his three countrymen - Patrick Versluys, Rudy Dhaenens and Jean-Philippe Vandenbrande.<\/p>

The pursuit was on and there could only be one champion.<\/p>

Early break at the Hell the North<\/h3>

Every edition of Paris-Roubaix is arduous and 1987 was no exception. Even before the first sections of cobbles were reached, the peloton was fractured by a cold wind blowing across the bleak unforgiving landscape.<\/p>

In the fight for shelter and space, numerous riders crashed out.<\/p>

\"Retro<\/u><\/a>An early opportunist break of seventeen included Theo de Rooij, riding in the interests of team leader Vanderaerden and Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke performing a similar role for Sean Kelly. By the time they reached the first cobbles, their advantage had shrunk to four minutes.<\/p>

Behind the bunch still included classics superstar and defending champion Sean Kelly, three-time winner Francesco Moser riding his final season and former winners Hennie Kuiper and Marc Madiot.<\/p>

Trou\u00e9e d'Arenberg<\/h3>

After the infamous Trou\u00e9e d'Arenberg, where many fell by the wayside on the slick, damp cobbles, the pretenders' lead and their remaining number had been diminished.<\/p>

With over 200 kilometres complete and only 60 remaining the lead had been reduced to three minutes. As expected, Vanderaerden and Kelly's teammates had led the chase.<\/p>

\"Jean-LucJean-Luc Vandenbroucke was in the early break. Image: The Mick Searle Collection<\/em><\/p>

With the breakaway's gap pared back to a single minute, four riders set off in pursuit. Each was a worthy rider in their own right but none had the star status of a Kelly or Vanderaerden.<\/p>

Despite Dhaenens having finished second to Kelly the year before, none was considered a real threat and they were allowed their freedom.<\/p>

\"Cycling<\/u><\/a>They reeled in what was left of the original seventeen and with under 30 kilometres to go despatched its final member, Theo de Rooij.<\/p>

Patrick Versluys (AD Renting), Jozef Lieckens (Lotto), Rudy Dhaenens and Jean-Philippe Vandenbrande (both Hitachi) rode on towards glory. Behind the chase had stalled as the favourites marked one another.<\/p>

The legs of Jozef Lieckens could take no more and he was ejected by the remaining three. Dhaenens who'd already crashed in tandem with de Rooij fell again.<\/p>

For a while, Versluys was away on his own before teammates Dhaenens and Vandenbrande fought and clawed, and dragged him back.<\/p>

\"ClassicsKelly fell with 25 km remaining. Image: The Mick Searle Collection<\/em><\/p>

In the pack of expected vainqueurs, Ireland's Sean Kelly had fallen. It was the cue for Vanderaerden to launch a devastating attack.<\/p>

Once clear he tore into the 45-second gap. Vanderaerden needed to catch the three leaders at a rate of two seconds a kilometre to have a chance of victory. And he did, making the junction right inside the final kilometre.<\/p>

The trio must have been crestfallen when the talented sprinter caught them. The result was almost inevitable. Vanderaerden finished well clear to claim his second and final monument.<\/p>

1st Eric Vanderaerden<\/h3>

Eric Vanderaerden had the looks and hair of a 1980s footballer. He was a massive talent that never achieved the greatness expected of him.<\/p>

As well as Paris-Roubaix he won at the Ronde van Vlaanderen, Gent-Wevelgem, E3 Prijs Harelbeke and the Belgian National Championships.<\/p>

In the grand tours, he won five stages of the Tour de France as well as its Green Jersey for the points competition and three stages of the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a.<\/p>

\"EricVanderaerden during his dramatic pursuit. Image: The Mick Searle Collection<\/em><\/p>

He dominated the former Driedaagse De Panne (Three Days of De Panne) achieving overall victory five times and taking thirteen stage wins.<\/p>

Sean Kelly said that he feared Vanderaerden more than any other rider. Both were brilliant sprinters and time trialists who could win races solo or in a bunch sprint.<\/p>

Vanderaerden was a much poorer climber than Kelly, hence his more limited success in the Grand Tours or hilly classics like Liege Bastogne Liege.<\/p>

Vanderaerden and Kelly's rivalry was so intense that it spilt out into the pages of the Belgian press and on at least one occasion resulted in joint disqualification.<\/p>

Eric retired in 1996 and went into team management for a while. His nephew Kenneth Vanbilsen rides for World Tour Team Cofidis.<\/p>

2nd Patrick Versluys<\/h3>

Patrick Versluys could be considered a 'nearly man'. If it wasn't for Vanderaerden he'd be remembered as a winner of one of cycling's five monuments.<\/p>

He had a very solid but unspectacular career. His results at Paris-Roubaix (2nd, 7th, 8th, 9th and 11th) suggest he was a talented cobbled classics rider who never quite had the luck or that little extra to turn strong rides into victories.

Patrick also finished 3rd in the Amstel Gold Race, 7th in the Ronde van Vlaanderen and 8th in Milano - San Remo, to cement his image as a 'nearly man'. He had few top-flight victories but in his final season of a nine-year career, he won the classic Nokere Koerse. Patrick went into team management.<\/p>

3rd Rudy Dhaenens<\/strong><\/h3>

Rudy Dhaenens would fit into a similar mould as Patrick Versluys. A solid rider who rarely won but with one major exception. The Belgian improbably won the 1990 World Road Race Championships.<\/p>

\"MathieuMathieu van der Poel's dad leads Dhaenens.<\/em> <\/em><\/strong>Image: The Mick Searle Collection<\/em><\/p>

Along with his more fancied teammate Dirk De Wolf, he infiltrated the winning break. Together they dropped all of their companions by the top of the final climb and then held off the chase by a mere eight seconds. Dhaenens held off De Wolf to be crowned Champion.

Forced to retire with heart problems, sadly Dhaenens died in a car crash aged just 36.<\/p>

4th Jean-Philippe Vandenbrande<\/h3>

Vandenbrande had a thirteen-year career that started with a win in the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a. After that, he settled into life in a string of Belgian and Dutch teams.<\/p>

Never a major winner he came close to greatness with 3rd and 4th places at the Ronde van Vlaanderen in 1986 and 1987 respectively.<\/p>

\"VersluysVersluys leads Vandenbrande.<\/em> <\/em><\/strong>Image: The Mick Searle Collection<\/em><\/p>

15 April 2022, Tim Costello<\/em><\/p>

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