The imperious Fabian Cancellara produced a second scintillating performance in a week to win Paris-Roubaix.
Swiss star surges to Paris-Roubaix triumph
The imperious Fabian Cancellara produced a second scintillating performance in a week to win Paris-Roubaix.
The 29-year-old Swiss star backed up his Tour of Flanders victory with a solo success in the cobbled classic known as 'The Hell of the North'.
He made his move with just under 50km to go in the 259km race when he powered to the front on section ten of the cobbles at Mons-en-Pévèle.
Producing a stunning burst of acceleration he quickly opened up a clear advantage from an eight-man chase group.
That lead stretched to over three minutes at one point and never looked like being bridged which left the rest of the field to battle for the other two podium positions in the 'Queen of the Classics'.
Podium place
And it was Team Sky's Juan Antonio Flecha, the runner up in 2007 and third in 2005, who forced that issue.
He first attacked with 24km to go but it was his second move with 12km remaining which proved decisive as only Thor Hushovd (Cervélo) was able to stay with him.
That pair worked well together all the way to the legendary Roubaix Velodrome, with Hushovd sprinting into second in the closing stages and Flecha following him across the line in third.
"After 200km people are looking at each other a bit," said Flecha afterwards, explaining what happened when Cancellara launched his race-winning attack. "When he went he opened the gap and he was away. And then he gave everything.
"I'm really happy about what I've done," continued Flecha. "With the team we did really well. Everyone was committed, everyone gave their best, and I think they were all enjoying Roubaix.
"In the end I knew Fabian would be really hard to get back, so I had to really fight for what I got. And I have to be happy with that."
Cancellara had a cushion of exactly two minutes ahead of both Hushovd and Flecha, and that after easing down on what was effectively a lap of honour.
There was a further minute and 14 seconds back to Roger Hammond who just collared three-time winner and defending champion Tom Boonen for fourth place.
World time-trial champion Cancellara won Paris-Roubaix for the first time in 2006 and added a second title to his list of honours which include three Tour de France prologue wins and victories in Milan-San Remo and the Tour of Flanders to stake his claim to be the greatest all-round rider of his generation.
Final result:
1 - Fabian Cancellara - (SUI) - Saxo Bank - ( 6:35:10)
2 - Thor Hushovd - (NOR) - Cervélo - (+2:00)
3 - Juan Antonio Flecha - (ESP) - Team Sky - (+2:00)
4 - Roger Hammond - (ENG) - Cervélo - (+3:14)
5 - Tom Boonen - (BEL) - Quick-Step - (+3:14)
6 - Björn Leukemans - (BEL) - Vacansoleil - (+3:20)
7 - Filippo Pozzato - (ITA) - Katyusha - (+3:46)
8 - Leif Hoste - (BEL) - Omega Pharma-Lotto - (+5:16)
9 - Sébastien Hinault - (FRA) - AG2R - (+6:27)
10 - Hayden Roulston - (NZL) - HTC-Columbia - (+6:59)
