Critérium des As

The Critérium des As (Race of the Aces) was a cycle race that was generally held at the end of the season, with entry by invitation only, for the leading riders of the season. Competitors rode behind pacers on tandems or motorcycles. It was held from 1921 until 1990, mostly in Paris, France but also in Switzerland and Holland. The last Critérium des As was held in 1990 and was replaced by the Roue d'Or des As the following year.

History In 1920 the Critérium de la résistance was run from Bordeaux to Paris (Longchamp) and back to Bordeaux, and is regarded as the forerunner of Critérium des As. The paced event was won by Louis Mottiat of Belgium, in 56 hours and 48 minutes.

In 1921 the best riders of the season were invited to enter the Critérium des As, 27 laps of a 3.63 km circuit around Longchamp. They rode alone except for pacers who helped on occasional laps, not being fast enough to last longer.

Crowds of up to 6,000 watched in the years before the World War II. The individual pacers were replaced by tandems, triplets, motorcycles and finally specialist Derny lightweight motorcycles in 1947. René de Latour, a journalist who organised the race in 1943, when the inside of the circuit included flak guns to defend the Renault factory in Boulogne-Billancourt, said:

The most prolific winner was Rik Van Steenbergen of Belgium, with five wins.

Winners Year Location Winner Second Third1921Longchamp Philippe Thys René Vermandel Henri Pélissier1922Longchamp René Vermandel Jean Alavoine Romain Bellenger1923Longchamp Jules Van Hevel Romain Bellenger Maurice Brocco1924Longchamp Jules Van Hevel Heiri Suter Henri Pélissier1925Longchamp Achille Souchard Hector Martin Romain Bellenger1926Longchamp Henri Pélissier Gabriel Marcillac Charles Lacquehay1927Longchamp Gabriel Marcillac Henri Pélissier Hector Martin1928Longchamp Charles Lacquehay Gérard Debaets Lucien Choury1929Longchamp Georges Wambst Armand Blanchonnet Charles Lacquehay1930Longchamp Camille Foucaux Henri Lemoine André Mouton1931Longchamp Jean Maréchal Henri Lemoine Georges Wambst1932Longchamp Ernest Terreau Georges Wambst Jean Maréchal1933Longchamp Charles Pélissier Romain Gijssels Ernest Terreau1934Longchamp André Leducq Charles Pélissier Julien Moineau1935Longchamp Ernest Terreau Edgard De Caluwé Romain Gijssels1936Longchamp Ernest Terreau René Debenne Maurice Richard1937Longchamp Georges Paillard Paul Chocque Victor Cosson1938Longchamp Gerrit Schulte René Debenne Cesare Moretti Jr.No race1943Longchamp Raoul Lesueur Joseph Somers Maurice ClautierNo race1947Longchamp Émile Carrara Émile Idée Lucien Teisseire1948Longchamp Rik Van Steenbergen Apo Lazaridès Louis Caput1949Longchamp Louison Bobet Fausto Coppi Wim van Est1950Longchamp Louison Bobet Stan Ockers Robert Varnajo1951Longchamp Hugo Koblet Rik Van Steenbergen Louison Bobet1952Longchamp Rik Van Steenbergen Louison Bobet André Darrigade1953Longchamp Louison Bobet Stan Ockers Ferdi Kübler1954Longchamp Louison Bobet Jacques Anquetil Ferdi Kübler1955Longchamp Rik Van Steenbergen Miguel Poblet Stan Ockers1956Longchamp Bernard Gauthier Rik Van Steenbergen Roger Rivière1957Longchamp Rik Van Steenbergen André Darrigade Louison Bobet1958Longchamp Rik Van Steenbergen André Darrigade Raphaël Géminiani1959Longchamp Jacques Anquetil Rik Van Steenbergen Jean Bobet1960Longchamp Jacques Anquetil André Darrigade Rik Van Looy1961Longchamp Rik Van Looy Rik Van Steenbergen André Darrigade1962Longchamp Rudi Altig Rik Van Steenbergen André Darrigade1963Longchamp Jacques Anquetil Tom Simpson Rik Van Looy1964Longchamp Peter Post Edward Sels Jacques Anquetil1965Longchamp Jacques Anquetil Jan Janssen Rudi Altig1966Longchamp Gerben Karstens Felice Gimondi Raymond Poulidor1967Lac Daumesnil Eddy Merckx Jacques Anquetil Felice Gimondi1968Le Havre Felice Gimondi Raymond Poulidor Ole Ritter1969Le Havre Walter Godefroot Raymond Delisle Julien Stevens1970Lac Daumesnil Eddy Merckx Herman Van Springel Lucien AimarNo race1972Felletin Raymond Poulidor Bernard Thévenet Walter Godefroot1973Tilburg, NL Gerben Karstens Felice Gimondi Eddy Merckx1974Nogaro Eddy Merckx Freddy Maertens Gerben Karstens1975Belfort Roger De Vlaeminck Herman Van Springel Freddy Maertens1976Valkenburg, NL Freddy Maertens Eddy Merckx Gerben Karstens1977Châteaulin Francesco Moser Herman Van Springel Ronald De Witte1978Orchies Michel Laurent Jan Raas Herman Van Springel1979La Défense Joop Zoetemelk Daniel Willems Bernard Hinault1980La Défense Joop Zoetemelk Herman Van Springel Patrick Hosotte1981La Défense Daniel Willems Herman Van Springel Stephen Roche1982La Défense Bernard Hinault Sean Kelly Alain Bondue1983Genève, Sui Greg LeMond Pascal Poisson Sean Kelly1984Montreuil-sous-Bois Sean Kelly Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke Claude Criquielion1985Montreuil-sous-Bois Sean Kelly Eric Vanderaerden Claude Criquielion1986Montreuil-sous-Bois Sean Kelly Adrie van der Poel Acácio da Silva1987Montreuil-sous-Bois Charly Mottet Eric Vanderaerden Sean Kelly1988Montreuil-sous-Bois Claude Criquielion Sean Kelly Pascal Poisson1989Port Leucate Laurent Fignon Sean Kelly Éric Caritoux1990Lac Daumesnil Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle Charly Mottet Laurent Fignon Notes

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