Rik Van Steenbergen was in an early breakaway with 12 riders and was first on the Kluisberg and
Kruisberg. In
Geraardsbergen, just after the peloton caught the group, Van Steenbergen,
Louison Bobet,
Bernard Gauthier and
Hugo Koblet broke away on the steep Kloosterstraat. Gauthier did most of the work in the four-man group for his team leader Bobet. Van Steenbergen, favourite to win in the sprint, paid his earlier efforts and was beaten by Bobet and Koblet. Louison Bobet, a three-time winner of the
Tour de France, secured the first ever victory for a French rider in the Tour of Flanders. ==Route==