Belgium's Tom Boonen won his third Paris-Roubaix on Sunday, becoming part of a very small list of cyclists who have won a “Hell of the North” hat trick.
The video at left shows what was probably the defining moment for Boonen. Having established a two-man lead with Thor Hushovd, the Norwegian crashed as Boonen led him through a cobbled section near the end.
Hushovd, riding for the Cervelo Test Team, is considered the stronger sprinter of the two, and would have been favored to win at the finishing velodrome in Roubaix. The crash put him out of contention for the win, but he battled back to take third.
Breakaway
The two were part of a six-man breakaway that included Leif Hoste and Johan Vansummeren (Silence-Lotto), Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank), and Filippo Pozzato (Katusha) that led during the latter part of the race. A crash by Flecha slowed these other four and allowed Boonen to ride away. Pozzato, who braked but did not fall in the crash, charged ahead to take second.
In the win, QuickStep's Boonen joins countrymen Eddy Merckx, Johan Museeuw and Rik Val Looy among those who have won the grueling bicycle race three times.
The peloton faced 33 miles of treacherous cobblestones in this year's 160-mile bike race from Paris to Roubaix. It was the 107th anniversary of the race.
Hincapie
George Hincapie of Columbia-High Road has always put Paris-Roubaix on his list of must-wins. He's finished in the top 10 seven times, coming in second one year. He had to stop for a wheel change during the race.
On Sunday he officially finished in 44th place, coming across the line with a group of nearly 30 riders who finished 6:32 after Boonen.
Results
See CyclingNews, VeloNews, or Steephill.tv for results. The Versus cable network will carry same-day coverage of Paris-Roubaix highlights at 5 p.m. (ET) Sunday.
Search “Paris-Roubaix 2009” at YouTube.com for more video.
Below is footage of past action in the Arenberg cobblestone section.
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