Boonen sets record straight

April 13 ^th 2008 - 17:04

Paris – Roubaix. 259.5 kms _ Cobbled sections: 52.8 kms _ 198 riders at the start _ _ THREE IN THE LEAD _ _ The beginning of the race was animated with several attacks, all rapidly quashed. The most significant move was led by France’s Matthieu Ladagnous (FDJ) between kilometres 11 and 20. _ Shortly before the first cobbled section in Troisvilles, three riders broke clear: Dutchman Matthe Pronk (Collstrop), Belgian Jan Kuyckx (Landbouwkrediet) and Russian Alexander Serov (Tinkoff). Belgium’s Pieter Ghyllebert (Topsport Vlanderen) chased on his own before being caught. _ The peloton were 3:05 behind on the first “paves”. The lead of the three topped at 5:30 at the end of cobbled section 24 (km 121.5). _ The first cobbles claimed their first serious scalp in Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole), who quit in the feeding zone (km 114.5). _ _ FLECHA AND POZZATO CRASH _ The peloton, led by teams Cofidis and CSC reduced the margin to 3:30 before the Arenberg trench. Two favourites, Juan Antonio Flecha and Filippo Pozzato were held back by a crash shortly before Arenberg and forced to chase. _ As the peloton slimmed down to some 30 riders, the gap had gone down to 2:30 after Arenberg. _ Behind the three leaders were the following riders: O’Grady, Breschel, Cancellara, Johansen, Ljungqvist (CSC), Langeveld (Rabobank), Wesemann (Collstrop), De Vocht, Roelandts, Van Summeren (Silence Lotto), Fischer (Liquigas), Boonen, De Jongh, Devolder, Hulsmans,Weylandt (Quick Step), Hincapie, Eisel, Hammond (High Road), Ballan (Lampre), Krauss (Gerolsteiner), Grabsch (Milram), Scheirlinckx (Cofidis), Mengin (FDJ), Clerc, Martias (Bouygues Telecom), Cooke (Barloworld) and Maaskant (Slipstream). _ As Serov and Kuyckx, who punctured, were caught, Pronk continued on his own and was brought back after cobbled section 15 in Brillon (km 186). _ Shortly before section 13, Flecha, followed by Pozzato, Servais Knaven and Tom Veelers returned into the leading bunch. _ After section 12 in Orchies, Sebastian Langeveld (CSC) crashed in spectacular fashion, and three other riders followed him in the ditch, including Hincapie. _ After a strong move by Van Summeren in section 11, a group of eight favourites took shape with 51 kms to go. _ _ AND THEN THERE WERE THREE _ The eight were Van Summeren and Leif Hoste, Tom Boonen and Stijn Devolder, Stuart O’Grady and Fabian Cancellara, Alessandro Ballan and Dutchman Martijn Maaskant. _ In the infamous Mons-en-Pevele cobbled zone (km 211), Devolder parted company with his companions. Last year’s winner O’Grady was the only one to react and he caught Devolder with 44 kms to go. The Tour of Flanders winner and the Paris-Roubaix holder were reined in six kms later as Hoste led the chase. _ O’Grady, Devolder and Hoste paid fort their efforts and were unable to move when Cancellara moved up a gear in with 35 kms to go in Templeuve, followed by Boonen and Ballan. _ The big three were left on their own to battle it out for victory. Their lead steadily increased and they kept together until the finale on the Roubaix cycling track. _ Ballan led the way but Boonen surged with 200 metres to go and was far too strong for his two rivals. The Belgian won the Queen of Classics for the second time after his initial 2005 success.