Fabian Cancellara started the 98th Tour of Flanders as favourite – and the rider nicknamed Spartacus duly delivered to secure a record-equaling victory and become only the seventh rider to win the race on three occassions.
The Trek Factory Racing rider made his move on the Oude Kwaremont, just as he did in 12 months ago, and, with only Sep Vanmarcke (Belkin Pro Cycling) able to follow, bridged across to the lead duo of Belgians Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing) and Stijn Vandenbergh (Omega Pharma-QuickStep).
While Cancellara may have powered to a solo victory in 2013, the Swiss rider used his tactical nous to win a cat-and-mouse sprint to triumph this time out and once again take centre stage on the podium in Oudenaarde at the end of a 259km race which underlined its reputation as one of the toughest and most prestigious in cycling.
Cancellara will now turn his attention to next Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix, where the 33-year-old will go in pursuit of a fourth victory in the Hell of the North and a third Flanders-Roubaix double, having previously won both in the same year in 2010 and 2013.
But first, let’s savour another Tour of Flanders for Cancellara. Here’s how the race unfolded through the lens of Stefano Sirotti.
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Two hundred and forty eight riders rolled out of Brugge for the 98th edition of the Tour of Flanders (Pic: Sirotti)
Omega Pharma-QuickStep will be looking to bounce back after missing out on the podium at the Ronde (Pic: Sirotti)
The race drew fans to the roadside in huge numbers - as it does every year (Pic: Sirotti)
Team Sky leader Geraint Thomas went into the race looking to better his tenth place finish from 2011 but an early crash dented the Welshman's chances (Pic: Sirotti)
BMC Racing's Greg Van Avermaet animated the race on several occassions and finally made an attack stick approximately 30km from the finish (Pic: Sirotti)
The Belgian was joined by his compatriot, Stijn Vandenbergh of Omega Pharma-QuickStep, and the duo soon gained a 30-second advantage, largely through Van Avermaet's efforts, with Vandenbergh content to sit on (Pic: Sirotti)
With Van Avermaet and Vandenbergh still out front, Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing) detonated the race on the Oude Kwaremont, just as he did 12 months ago, and only Sep Vanmarcke (Belkin Pro Cycling) could follow the Swiss rider (Pic: Sirotti)
Van Avermaet briefly unshackled Vandenbergh on the ascent of the Paterberg, but Vandenbergh then hitched on to Cancellara and Vanmarcke and the trio bridged across to Van Avermaet, making the catch with 11km to go (Pic: Sirotti)
That setup a cat-and-mouse sprint and it was Cancellara who triumphed ahead of Van Avermaet and Vanmarcke, with Vandenbergh the rider to miss out on a podium place (Pic: Sirotti)
Fabian Cancellara could seal a record-breaking third Ronde-Roubaix double (pic: Sirotti)
Boonen rolled across the line in seventh place (Pic: Sirotti)
Thomas, bearing the scars on his face and left leg, cut a frustrated figure after finishing a career-best eighth (Pic: Sirotti)
The day belonged to Cancellara, however, and 33-year-old took centre stage on the podium (Pic: Sirotti)
Fabian Cancellara starts as favourite to defend his Paris-Roubaix title (Pic: Sirotti)
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