In July, he took part in his first Tour de France with the Belgian team.

He won the longest time trial stage in the history of the Tour, between Vannes and Saint-Brieuc, nearly five minutes ahead of second-placed Jean Robic.

[2] In 1954, Raymond Impanis joined the Mercier team led by Antonin Magne.

[3] Raymond Impanis finished third in the 1956 Tour of Spain and won the Flèche Wallonne in 1957.

This record was equalled in 2010 by Dutchman Servais Knaven and in 2011 by American George Hincapie and Frenchman Frédéric Guesdon, before the latter two brought the record for the most appearances in the Hell of the North to seventeen in 2012.