Editing Paris–Brest–Paris (section)

===1956 to present: amateur event===
Though listed on the professional calendar in 1956 and 1961, too few racers signed up to make the event happen. Nonetheless, hundreds of randonneurs turned out. And the randonneur division even featured racing, [[René Herse]]-sponsored Roger Baumann winning over Lheuillier in 52&nbsp;hours 19&nbsp;minutes.<ref name="VBQ - 1 - 2">{{cite journal|last=Heine|first=Jan|title=Interview with Roger Baumann, Pilote de René Herse and Winner of PBP 1956|journal=Vintage Bicycle Quarterly|year=2002|volume=1|issue=2|url=http://www.bikequarterly.com/contents.html}}</ref>

PBP was held every five years between 1956 and 1975, with more participants and less media coverage.<ref name="BQ - 9 - 3">{{cite journal|last=Heine|first=Jan|title=The History of Randonneuring, Part 3: Post-War Boom, 1950s Decline and the End of Competition|journal=Bicycle Quarterly|year=2011|volume=9|issue=3|pages=55|url=http://www.bikequarterly.com/contents.html}}</ref> From 1948 until the 1980s, the randonneur event included a "Challenge des Constructeurs" for the bicycle maker with the three best-placed riders. [[René Herse]] won this "Challenge" every time from 1948 until 1971, and again in 1975. No other builder won the "Challenge" more than once.<ref>{{cite book|last=Heine|first=Jan|title=Rene Herse - The Bikes - The Builder - The Riders|year=2012|publisher=Bicycle Quarterly Press|location=Seattle|isbn=976546023-6|pages=424|url=http://www.bikequarterly.com/books_rene_herse.html}}</ref>

The Belgian former professional Herman de Munck came 5th in 66, first in 71, 75, 79 and 83. He was disqualified in 79, most believe unfairly. De Munck continues to place highly, finishing the 1999 PBP 109th place at the age of 60.

The randonneur Paris–Brest–Paris has always allowed women to participate.<ref name="BQ - 8 - 3">{{cite journal|last=Heine|first=Jan|title=The History of Randonneuring, Part 1: Vélocio, the Audax and Paris-Brest-Paris|journal=Bicycle Quarterly|year=2010|volume=8|issue=3|pages=54|url=http://www.bikequarterly.com/contents.html}}</ref> In 1975, Chantal de la Cruz and Nicole Chabriand lowered the women's time to 57&nbsp;hours. In 1979, Suzy de Carvalho finished in 57h02m.

American Scott Dickson came third in 1979, though at just less than 49&nbsp;hours he was four hours behind the winners. In 1983 he again came third, this time by only one hour. He won his first PBP in 1987 by breaking away in Brest, aided by a tailwind and a few strong riders from the "touring" group, which that year started many hours before the "racing" group. Dickson also won in 1991 and in 1995.

Susan Notorangelo set a women's record of 54&nbsp;hours 40&nbsp;minutes in 1983, this was bettered in 1995 when by Brigitte Kerlouet 44&nbsp;hours 14&nbsp;minutes. American Melinda Lyon finished as first woman in 1999 and 2003. In 2007 the first woman was Christiane Thibault, and in 2011 it was Isabelle Esclangon, both from France.

The 2007 Paris–Brest–Paris was the first poor weather event since 1987. It was the worst weather PBP riders had faced since 1956. 30.2% failed to finish.{{cn|date=August 2022}}