Boonen hammering w/ 10K to go. No sprint finish needed, he just blew up the race.
Just finished watching Paris-Roubaix on Versus. Great race, though quite dry. Defending champion Tom Boonen soloed to victory in a dusty, crash-filled Paris-Roubaix as Quick Step, Cervélo TestTeam and Silence-Lotto slugged it out, toe to toe, over the cobbles. Boonen looked like a stage GC guy throwing out attack after relentless attack. No sprint finish needed, he just watted the pack into the cobbles. I thought Thor Husholvd was going to take the win when he and Boonen got a gap, but Husholvd overshot a turn on the cobble and went down. Boonen saw it and attacked hard. Boonen covered all the moves, attacked frequently and went off the front when he thought the time was right citing “instinct”. With P-R triumphs in 2005 and 2008, his instincts are pretty good. Filippo Pozzato (Katusha) a former P-R winner was close but couldn’t match Boonen’s pace at the end.
Big George flatted at the worst time, and never recovered. Vows to come back.
Top 10
1. Tom Boonen (B), Quick Step, 259km in 6:15:53, (41.343kph)
2. Filippo Pozzato (I), Katusha, at 0:47
3. Thor Hushovd (N), Cervelo Test, at 1:17
4. Leif Hoste (B), Silence-Lotto, at 1:17
5. Johan Van Summeren (B), Silence-Lotto, at 1:22
6. Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa), Rabobank, at 2:14
7. Heinrich Haussler (Ger), Cervelo Test, at 3:13
8. Sylvain Chavanel (F), Quick Step, at 3:15
9. Manuel Quinziato (I), Liquigas, at 5:00
10. Matti Breschel (Dk), Saxo Bank, at 5:29
TrainingFromABarkalounger 