Critérium des As

On this page: || Most wins | Best British performances | History | List of winners

Most Wins

• 5 wins: Rik Van Steenbergen
• 4 wins: Louison Bobet, Jacques Anquetil
• 3 wins: Ernest Terreau, Eddy Merckx, Sean Kelly

Best British Performance

• 2nd: Tommy Simpson, 1963
• 3rd: Tommy Simpson, 1962

History

The Critérium des As was a derny-paced criterium, generally held at the end of the season in Paris. Entry was by invitation only, with the invitations going to the leading riders of the season. The role of honour is thus an illustrious one: Leducq, two of the three Pélissier brothers; Bobet, Koblet and Van Steenbergen, Anquetil, Poulidor and Van Looy; Merckx, De Vlaeminck and Gimondi; Hinault, Moser and Maertens; Kelly, Lemond and Fignon all featured amongst the winners. Sadly the race, after a somewhat itinerant final few years, is no more, though a similar race - the Amsterdam RAI Derny race - is still held, though for how much longer remains to be seen.

In 1920, a race called the "Critérium de la résistance" was held from Bordeaux - Paris - Bordeaux. This is generally held to be the first edition of the Critérium des As. The winner was Louis Mottiat. (See also Bordeaux - Paris).

Winners