Fabian Cancellara continued his outstanding Classics campaign by winning Paris-Roubaix for a third time with a track-style sprint victory over Sep Vanmarcke.
The 111th edition of the senior race - played out in bright, dry and dusty conditions over a 254km route - was the second fastest of all time. The real action began after the day's breakaway was caught 48km from the line, when both Cancellara and Vanmarcke were among 12 riders who powered clear of the main peloton and later split into three groups of four.
Cancellara took up station in the third and initially looked like he may not have the legs for a third Classics win of the season, but after Vanmarcke attacked again alongside Stijn Vandenbergh (Omega Pharma-Quick-Step) 29km out, the Swiss rider sensed danger and began to accelerate through the field.
Final selection
With Zdenek Stybar (Omega Pharma-Quick-Step) in tow, he swiftly bridged across to the front pair with 19km to go and it soon became clear that the winner would come from that quartet.
The group was cut down to just two after both Vandenbergh and Stybar collided with spectators - the former falling heavily - leaving Cancellara and Vanmarcke to negotiate the final 14km on their own.
Cancellara attempted to win solo with an attack 4km out, but after Vanmarcke was able to follow, the Swiss was left to rely on clinching the sprint.
"It is always beautiful to win," he added. "I never gave up. I don't know how I did it when I went away.
"I could not believe when I passed the finish line. Winning as the favourite was hard. Now just one thing - and that is a holiday."
Results
1 Fabian Cancellara (Sui) RadioShack-Leopard, 5:45.33
2 Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Blanco, same time
3 Niki Terpstra (Ned) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, +31secs
4 Greg van Avermaet (Bel) BMC, st
5 Damien Gaudin (Fra) Europcar, st
6 Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, +39
7 Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Orica-GreenEDGE, st
8 Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa) Vacansoleil-DCM, st
9 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha, st
10 Sebastien Turgot (Fra) Europcar, st
51 Ian Stannard (GB) Team Sky, +3.32
79 Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky, +14.34
110 Luke Rowe (GB) Team Sky, +26.16
116 Russell Downing (GB) NetApp-Endura, st
