|
Cancellara becomes a Ronde legend
Swiss Fabian Cancellara became an instant legend today in Belgium with his attack on the Muur-Kapelmuur to win the Ronde van Vlaanderen. The win came at the hands of Belgium's cycling favourite, Tom Boonen, who Cancellara dropped to ride solo to victory.
Cancellara worked with Boonen to take the win after the two rode clear on the Molenberg, 45 kilometres to race. The power duo continued over the next three climbs – Leberg, Berendries and Tenbosse – and gained time on the chase behind with David Millar, Philippe Gilbert and Björn Leukemans.
Cancellara, though, sensed the movement was right to ditch his companion and ride to his Muur-Kapelmuur, known simply as 'The Muur' and lined with thousands of fans screaming for their heroes.
"What I did, it just came at the moment, it was by instinct," said Cancellara, 29 years old. "If that attack didn't work, I would have made another one."
He accelerated in his saddle, while Boonen, winner of two Rondes, struggled and stomped on his pedals behind.
"There were so many people lined out on the Muur, I could hardly hear or understand where Tom was behind me. When I finally looked back, I understood I had some distance."
The Swiss Champion crossed the line 15 kilometres later with one minute and 15 seconds on his Belgian rival. Gilbert finished almost another minute back.
Cancellara's Saxo Bank team-mates rolled in further back, exhausted but happy for the win.
"The team's work," Cancellara continued, "gave me even more physiology power."
From the first of the day's 15 climbs Saxo Bank headed the race to control the eight-man escape and prepare for an eventual win by Cancellara or Matti Breschel. Frank Hoj, Kasper Klostergård, Anders Lund, Gustav Larsson, Baden Cooke and Stuart O'Grady all set up Cancellara and Breschel for the win.
Australian O'Grady was visible on many of the climbs and he gave Breschel space to ride up front with rival Boonen on the steep, cobbled Paterberg and then the Koppenberg.
"The advantage was having Matti," said Cancellara. "I knew that Tom must have spent energy to follow Matti, while just sat near and watched the others."
Breschel had mechanical problems with his bike, switched it and continued, nearly at the same time Cancellara went clear with Boonen. Breschel got going again and finished 15th.
Cancellara's win made him the only active rider in the peloton with three wins in cycling's five Monuments. It also gave Specialized bicycles three wins in the last three years at Ronde: Cancellara and two years with Belgian Stijn Devolder.
For more information about the S-Works Road Bikes
Please contact your nearest Specialized Concept Stores for further questions or information
Birmingham | Bristol | Chester | Harrogate | London (Ruislip) | Plymouth.
|