Fabian Cancellara wins Paris-Roubaix for third time after beating Sep Vanmarcke
Fabian Cancellara continued his outstanding Classics campaign by winning Paris-Roubaix for a third time.
By Matt Westby
Last Updated: 09/04/13 10:30am
The RadioShack-Leopard rider delivered a powerful and tactically astute performance to add to his 2006 and 2010 triumphs and record only the 12th Tour of Flanders/Paris-Roubaix double in history.
He made his decisive move by joining a leading group of four riders with 19km to go and although two of those men were eliminated from contention following collisions with spectators, the Swiss rider's victory seldom looked in doubt.
Having ridden into the Roubaix velodrome side by side with Vanmarcke and then entered into the type of cat-and-mouse game normally seen in track cycling, he allowed his Belgian rival to lead out the sprint, before rounding him in the final straight and winning by a bike's length.
Cancellara now has six victories in cycling's Monuments to his name, including two Flanders-Roubaix doubles, the other being in 2010.
"I don't really know how I did it," the 32-year-old said. "It is amazing having a third victory. When I see how the race came, it was everybody against our team and against me.
"It is always special [to win], but today was somehow more special than the other ones because I was alone and at the front. Today was pure fighting. Today was probably my longest fight ever since I was riding my bike."
British woe
Britain's highest finisher was Ian Stannard (Team Sky), in 51st. Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) crossed the line over 14min 34sec down in 79th after crashing twice.
There was British success in the junior race, however, where Tao Geoghegan Hart claimed an impressive third place.
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
