Which cyclist won the first Paris–Roubaix held after World War II, in 1946?

Georges Claes won the first Paris–Roubaix held after World War II, in 1946.

The 1946 edition was the first running of Paris–Roubaix since 1939, because the race was suspended during World War II. Claes won the postwar classic, which returned riders to the rough northern roads and pavé sectors associated with its nickname, the Hell of the North.

Paris–Roubaix had already developed a reputation for mechanical failures, crashes, mud, and brutal cobbles before the war. The postwar edition carried additional significance because European sport was rebuilding after years of disruption, shortages, and damaged infrastructure.

Georges Claes had previously won the race in 1941, making him a two-time champion. The 1946 result is distinct from the first-ever Paris–Roubaix in 1896, won by Josef Fischer, and from the 1947 edition, won by Georges Claes again.