Cancellara claims classic win

Fabian Cancellara picked his moment perfectly to claim his first-ever Tour of Flanders victory.

Saxo Bank rider leaves Boonen trailling in his wake

Fabian Cancellara picked his moment perfectly to power clear of breakaway rival Tom Boonen before battling on brilliantly to claim his first-ever Tour of Flanders victory. The Saxo Bank rider made his move on the legendary ascent of the Muur and used his world championship-winning time trialling skills to maintain his advantage over the final 18 kilometres as he pressed on towards the finish line. Home favourite Boonen, riding for Quick-Step, managed to hold out on his own to secure second place, one minute 14 seconds behind, with compatriot Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) a further 56 seconds adrift in third. Grey skies and damp roads had made for a testing start to the day as the peloton rolled out of the Grote Markt in Bruges, but that didn't stop eight riders breaking away early on and quickly building a lead of over 30 minutes as they hurtled along the flat plains to the south of the picturesque city. Team Sky joined forces with Quick-Step at the front of the peloton after 94km and that lead had dropped to just under eight minutes by the time the front group made it over the top of the first of 15 short, sharp climbs. A large crash after 103km in Anzegem split the peloton momentarily but they were largely back together by the time they made it to the Kluisberg, still four minutes behind the leaders.

Sky move

As the race progressed, Team Sky duo Mathew Hayman and Juan Antonio Flecha positioned themselves behind Saxo Bank's Stuart O'Grady at the front of the chasing pack on the Oude-Kwaremont, and their efforts split the peloton apart as they made their way towards the next ascent up the Paterberg. On that climb Flecha remained at the head of the group and joined an elite group of 10 riders including the likes of Boonen, Cancellara and Matti Breschel (Saxo Bank) before the legendary Koppenberg. Earlier in the day, rumours had been rife that the race organisers were considering leaving the climb out due to the slippery conditions on the cobbles, but by the time they made it to the base, the surface was dry and the leaders were soon swept up as Breschel and Boonen made their way over the top with Flecha holding on comfortably in fifth position. Hayman, Ian Stannard, Kurt-Asle Arvesen and Geraint Thomas joined back up with team-mate Flecha at the front of the peloton as Michail Ignatiev (Katyusha), Floris Goesin ( Skil Shimano) and Joost van Lijen (Vacansoleil) broke away just before the Taaienberg. Their advantage didn't last long though and they were hauled back by the Team Sky quintet near the summit of the Eikenberg. Hayman tried his hand off the front prior to the Molenberg but it was Boonen and Cancellara who stepped up the gas on that ascent and quickly built an advantage of around 25 seconds before Garmin's David Millar attempted to breach the gap with around 35km to go. Millar was eventually caught up on the Berendries by Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) and Bjorn Leukemans (Vacansoleil), but by that time Boonen and Cancellara had extended their lead to nearly a minute and the duo maintained that advantage onto the Muur before Cancellara made his decisive move. The Swiss champion didn't even need to leave his saddle as he opened up an unassailable lead at the summit and from then on it was all-but over as he continued to show great strength before celebrating a memorable victory in the destination town of Ninove. Race result: 1 - Fabian Cancellara - (SUI) - Saxo Bank - (6:25:32)
2 - Tom Boonen - (BEL) - Quick-Step - (+1:14)
3 - Philippe Gilbert - (BEL) - Omega Pharma-Lotto - (+2:10)
4 - Björn Leukemans - (BEL) - Vacansoleil - (+2:14)
5 - Tyler Farrar - (USA) - Garmin - (+2:35)
6 - George Hincapie - (USA) - BMC Racing Team - (+2:35)
7 - Roger Hammond - (ENG) - Cervélo - (+2:35)
8 - Maxim Iglinskiy - (KAZ) - Astana - (+2:35)
9 - Danilo Hondo - (GER) - Lampre - (+2:35)
10 - William Bonnet - (FRA) - Bbox-Bouygues - (+2:35)