It still provokes many a discussion when talking of all time classic Paris Roubaixs'. You'll hear a few different stories on how the finish was decided. This story below is one I was told years ago and you can find it various forms in books and on the internet.
Three racers led the pack 86 Km from the finish line, all members of the (now legendary) Mapei team. They were Museeuw, Bortolami and Tafi and it became clear that one of these three would win, but who. Museeuw is reported to have said that it should be him due to the fact he was the more famous of the three (he had already won the World CUp in '95). Point made the two Italians agreed to work for the Belgian, even waiting for him after a puncture.
Now the argument spread to who would take the 2nd and 3rd spots. Using the same system, Bortolami surely should have the 2nd place with Tafi to follow in third. Finally it was DS Lefevere who put an end to the arguments, after a quick call to Giorgio Squinzi (CEO of Mapei) that the final finishing places were to be decided.
Many think that they should have been allowed to sprint for the line, and sort it out man to man. I would have loved to have seen that unfold, it may have stopped the response from the Italian press at the time. For Bortolami this would be his highest finish, Museeuw would go on to win it again in 2000 and 2002 (which I was there for): for Tafi he would finally get his day in 1999 (where all the podium was covered by Mapei riders again)
