It takes two to tangle: Tom Boonen vs Fabian Cancellara (V/VI)

April 5 ^th 2023 - 17:00

Tom Boonen vs Fabian Cancellara (V/VI)

The legends of sport are forged in the fire of long-running rivalries between two champions. Paris–Roubaix, a prime target for the cobble-gobblers, often sets the stage for no-holds-barred contests between acrobats on wheels. A mechanical at the wrong time, poor positioning or a moment of hesitation when the decisive move comes can seal the outcome of the race. The site paris-roubaix.fr looks back on the history of these epic duels ahead of the latest showdown between the best of enemies, Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel, in their hunt for a maiden win in the Queen of Classics.

Between them, the formidable Tom Boonen and Fabian Cancellara claimed all editions of the race from 2005 to 2013 bar two. Their fierce rivalry and contrasting styles were the perfect script for a drama that kept Northern classics aficionados on the edge of their seats for an entire decade. When all was said and done, it was the Belgian who came out on top, with 4 cobblestone trophies to the Swiss rider's 3.

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