Jean Stablinsky, who hasn’t had much luck this season because luck rarely favored him, was the 146th and final participant to collect his race number yesterday in Nokere. He was even a little late.

The apologetic mayor deliberately delayed the start of the ride, which had been a success in all respects, by five minutes, as if he knew that the former French champion, Jaak De Boever, would be one of the highlights of the sunny afternoon.

Stablinsky, eager for victory, indeed delivered a beautiful and eye-catching performance. In the first half of the race, he excelled primarily in defense.

No one will disagree with us when we suggest that it was mainly thanks to his decisive intervention that all the attacks during the first 75 km were thwarted. Despite W. Planckaert, A. Van Vlierberghe, B. Beheyt, M. Mathieu, Messelis, H. Van Loo, J. De Boever, Omloop, Troonbeeckx, Walschaerts, André Planckaert, and other Vynckes riders doing their utmost to tear the peloton apart.

In the second half, he shone on the offensive. The powerfully riding Stablinsky indeed broke away after 85 km with Freddy Deblieck, who, temperamental as he is, supported him gently and unconditionally, and Roger Verheyden, who, for reasons known to himself and to which we had a guess, remained neutral. Perhaps Guillaume Driessens, who was on the scene, thought he had a better chance with Willy Planckaert?

The three, or rather the two, quickly gained a one-minute lead. Then it was as if a bomb exploded in the middle of the group, tearing everything to pieces.

First to jump in were De Boever, André Planckaert, Messelis, Osw. Declercq, J. Delhaye, W. Spuhler, J. Van Gompel, joined by the equally busy Benoni Beheyt, H. Dewolf, Kosten, Theo Mertens, R. Van Vreckom, R. Dejongh, and Colpaert.

Then came P. Somers, G. Smissaert, K. Vyncke, and Joris Demeyer, who were assisted by N. Foré, Bosmans, G. Maes, Troonbeeckx, R. Van Meenen, Brands, W. Van den Bulck, Jul Haelterman, Snepvangers, Hogewijs, Ivan Verbiest, Renton, and Delameilleure. The rest were immediately defeated.

Although Stablinsky and Deblieck offered fierce resistance, they could not prevent De Boever, who was undeniably one of the most diligent in the hunt, and his companions from overtaking them with barely 10 km to go.

From that moment on, the French star rider, who can hardly be called a sprinter, was a beaten man. Jaak De Boever, like him constantly at the forefront, didn’t let it come down to a sprint. He likely didn’t have complete confidence in his teammate Benoni Beheyt, although the latter seemed to have improved significantly and even surprised us favorably. Therefore, the Gottem native took no risks.

Just as in the recent Paris-Roubaix, he set friend and foe free with a dazzling jump, securing a victory he deserved. He was the only one who put in as much effort as Stablinsky yesterday.

A sympathetic winter will be some people’s when the nights are over. Betting gave him structure, but they didn’t overcome Follow.

Willem Van Wynendaele

Result 146 professional cyclists

1. Jaak De Boever 150 km in 3 h 43 min.
2. Oswald Declercq on 22″
3. Reindert De Jongh (nl)
4. Roger Verheyden
5. Remi Van Vreckom
6. Jean Stablinsky (fr)
7. Jan Van Gompel
8. H. De Wolf
9. Werner Swaenefelt (nl)
10. Dignus Kosten (nl)
11. Benoni Beheyt
12. Freddy De Blieck
13. Roger Smissaert
14. André Messelis
15. André Planckaert on 50″
16. Karel Colpaert
17. Jaak Delhaye
18. Willy Spuhler (zw)
19. Walter Remon
20. Gilbert Maes
21. Willy Van den Bulck
22. Ivan Verbiest
23. Willy Hoogwijs
24. Noel Foré
25. Lode Troonbeeckx
26. Paul Somers
27. Julien Haelterman
28. Jos Bosmans
29. Kamiel Vynke
30. Leopold Van den Neste
31. Frans Brands
32. Donaat Himpe
33. René Van Meenen
34. Daniel Delameilleure
35. Kees Snepvangers (nl)