Emile Masson, Jr

Emile Masson, Jr

Emile Masson, Jr (1915 - 2011) was a Belgian professional road bicycle racer. He was born in Hollogne-aux-Pierres, the son of former professional cyclist Emile Masson, Sr. In 1938 he won Fleche Wallone and a stage of the Tour de France. He is most famous for his 1939 win of Paris-Roubaix. 

1939 Paris-Roubaix

Masson, Jr. raced professionally from 1937 to 1939 and from 1945 to 1951. Four years of his racing career was lost due to service during World War II.

After the war, he returned to racing his bike, winning Bordeaux-Paris in 1946. This race is famous for being about 560km (approximately 348 miles) long and requiring some 14 hours to ride.

Emile Masson, Jr. also won the Belgain National Championship title in 1946 and 1947.

In that April 9, 1939 battle to Roubaix, Emile Masson defeated another favorite Belgian, Marcel Kint - a man nicknamed the "Black Eagle". The French speaking press printed how Masson had "killed" the Black Eagle that day on a pursuit across the broken pave of northern France. 

January 2, 2011, the same day that Emile Masson, Jr passed away, thousands of black birds mysteriously fell dead from the sky in a few square mile area in Arkansas. As of today, the scientists still aren't able to fully explain exactly what caused this bizarre event.

Emile Masson, Jr was 95 years old at the time of his death.