If you tuned in to the Paris-Roubaix bike race about an hour before the finish, like I did, the race already was a foregone conclusion.
Apparently, all of the tactics, punctures, and crashes on the cobblestones had taken place earlier in the race.
By an extraordinary effort, Tom Boonen won his record-tying fourth Paris-Roubaix on Sunday with plenty of time to spare.
The final hour of the race broadcast essentially showed Boonen bumping to the finish over the cobbles with more than a minute lead on his challengers, who seemed unable to capture him.
Don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed seeing the crowds and the countryside pass by and watching the cyclists’ skills on the century-old farm roads. And I was amazed by Boonen’s ability to create such a gap over his challengers. But the race didn’t have me on the edge of my seat.
Battle for 2nd
The biggest surprise, besides Boonen capturing such a huge lead so early, was the battle for second and third when Sébastien Turgo and Niki Terpstra suddenly showed up in the Roubaix velodrome to challenge the chase group — Lars Boom, Alessandro Ballan, and Juan Antonio Flecha. Turgo beat Ballan in a photo finish for second place.
Taylor Phinney, at 15th place, was the highest finishing American.Tyler Farrar finished in 28th and George Hincapie placed 43rd. (He also tied with Frédéric Guesdon as riding in the most Paris-Roubaix bike races — 17.)
Boonen’s victory ties the 4-win record set by Roger De Vlaeminck, another Belgian who raced from the late 1960s to early 1980s.
The Omega Pharma-QuickStep cyclist was the clear favorite this year, especially after Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara fell and broke his collarbone at the Tour of Flanders.
Escape
How did Boonen get away? See the video above.
Reading the live ticker at CyclingNews, a group of leaders emerged from the Arenberg Forest. American Hincapie had been with them entering the forest, but he had fallen back when they came out.
Norway’s Thor Hushovd fell victim to a crash, and Frenchman Sylvain Chavenal punctures, losing critical time.
Then, with 55k left in the 257k race (160 miles), Boonen and teammate Terpstra attack the leaders, and that’s the last they’ll see of Boonen.
Stay tuned next year, when Boonen attempts a record-breaking fifth win at the Paris-Roubaix. At 31, he’s got a few more wins in his legs at this bike race if he rides like he did on Sunday.
I’ll be sure to tune in earlier.
More
NBCSports has scheduled at wrap-up show from 7-10 p.m. (ET) on Sunday. Also race results at CyclingNews, Velonews and photo and video coverage at Steephill.
Recent Comments