Cancellera Gets 2nd in Paris-Roubaix, Ranked #1 in World

First Endurance rider Fabian Cancellara (LEOPARD TREK) launched repeated attacks during the final 50 kilometers of the Hell of the North to overcome team tactics stacked against him and win the sprint for second in the open air Velodrome of Roubaix. Because this is the third podium finish for Fabian in as many weeks, he is now the number one ranked rider in the world!

“I’m very happy. This feels like a win,” said Cancellara. “I know people remember the winner. They do not remember second place, but for me, this feels like a win after second at San Remo, third at Flanders and the win in Harelbeke.” Cancellara’s hard fought efforts began in earnest following a failed attack from Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervélo) in the main chase group. Accelerating just before pavé sector 11, Cancellara’s move was only matched by Hushovd and Juan Antonia Flecha (Sky Procycling). When Alessandro Ballan (BMC) realized he had missed out on what could have been the winning move, he bridged across to the trio. A handful of other riders followed suit, and it became clear that Cancellara’s attack had isolated several race favorites.

Cancellara put in another dig on sector nine. Hushovd immediately latched onto his wheel, and in a repeat of the first attack, Ballan, who missed out on the move, was forced to bridge. Cancellara, leading the trio, slashed the gap to the group out front by 20 seconds in a single kilometer. As the front group received word of what was going on behind, BMC and Garmin attempted to slow down the front group. Playing a tactical game on sector seven, the front group lost time and Cancellara’s group further closed in on the leaders.

The gap between the two groups had been whittled down to 25 seconds, and Cancellara continued to push on without assistance from Hushovd or Ballan. With 30 kilometres remaining, Cancellara strongly encouraged his breakmates to share in the work. When both proved uninterested or incapable of contributing to the chase, citing teammates up the road, Cancellara sat up. “I told them that they should pull,” Cancellara said during a post-race press conference. “This was the way to maybe make their chance for the win. Last week, I had a bad moment before the Muur. Today there could have been a crash or a mechanical. I had to stop the effort because for me the race would have been over. If I continued to pull with Thor on my wheel and Ballan there too, it would have been impossible to win.” The trio’s game of poker gave the group behind an opportunity to catch back and allowed the group in front to increase their gap to 40 seconds.

“I knew it was going to be difficult for me to win,” noted Cancellara. “I knew everybody would be watching me, and I knew I would need to attack to win. I knew there really was no other way. I understand the tactics of Ballan and Hushovd, and I respect them” With 25 kilometres remaining, the gap between the front group, entering sector six, and Cancellara’s group had grown to a minute. The increasing gap served as a confidence boost to the break, and the attacks began to fly. A dig by Lars Bak (HTC) launched four riders including Bak, Martin Tjallingii (Rabobank), Gregory Rast (Radioshack) and eventual winner Johan Van Summeran off the front.

With 14 kilometres remaining, Cancellara launched another massive attack. Predictably, the move received attention from Hushovd. The two blew past riders scattered on the road from what had once been the early break. Ballan, Flecha and the others bridged up, and the group had only three riders between themselves and solo leader Van Summeren. Cancellara’s final attack came with 3.5 kilometres remaining in the race, and, for the first time since the start, Hushovd was not able to hold Cancellara’s wheel. Within a single kilometre, Cancellara caught the chase group pursuing Van Summeren. Joining Tjallingii, Rast and Bak, Cancellara forged ahead at the front of the quartet.

Van Summeren entered the final sector of pavé leading into the famed Velodrome with 40 seconds on the four men behind him. By the time, he made his way onto the track, his gap had been further reduced, but his lead was too far established for even Cancellara to close. “I only have two legs,” said Cancellara. “I did the maximum I could. I couldn’t do anything more. The winner here today is beautiful. He wasn’t someone expected. He maybe woke up this morning thinking I’m going to ride for my team. I’m going to help, and he won the race. I’m very happy for him.”

After three big Classics and three podium finishes, along with a win in Harelbeke, Cancellara is satisfied with his early season. “To win is nice, but second place is also good. More than that would not have been possible today,” Cancellara said. “Later going or earlier going — I couldn’t change the situation of the race. In the end, being on the podium of Paris-Roubaix is not bad. Favorites can’t always win. I’m proud of my efforts. I know my team worked very hard. They do a great deal to contribute to my success.”