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Paris Roubaix 2012

April 8, 2012 by · Comments Off on Paris Roubaix 2012 

Paris Roubaix 2012, Paris-Roubaix 2012: Tom Boonen dominates ‘hell of the north’ one-day classic with record-equalling fourth win
Tom Boonen has won the Paris-Roubaix one-day classic after the in-form Belgian dominated the 257.5-kilometre race from Compiègne to the Roubaix Velodrome in northern France.
The Omega Pharma-Quick Step rider attacked around 55km from the finish line which he crossed in five hours 55 minutes 22 seconds, almost two minutes ahead of his nearest rivals.

Boonen, 31, went into Sunday’s race the overriding favourite following a phenomenal series of results that have seen him triumph in the Tour of Flanders, Ghent-Wevelgem and E3 Harelbeke one-day races.

The Belgian, who won the race nicknamed ‘the hell of the north’ in 2005, 2008 and 2009, received a further boost after Fabian Cancellara was unable to compete after the Swiss classics specialist broke a collarbone during last week’s Tour of Flanders.

The victory saw the former world champion match compatriot Roger De Vlaeminick with four Paris-Roubaix titles on his palmarès while also becoming the first rider to complete the Tour of Flanders/Paris-Roubaix double twice.

With around 60km remaining Norway’s Thor Hushovd and Filippo Pozzato of Italy both crashed before Bonnen made the decisive move of the race as he escaped the main bunch which featured a number of Team Sky riders.

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