(AP Photo/Michel Spingler)
The prediction here last night was of a Fabian Cancellara repeat. The only repeat was that a CSC riders rode everyone off his wheel to win. This time the man in the CSC kit was Stuart O’Grady. The Aussie was in an early breakaway probably doing the work of setting things up for his teammate. O’Grady was able to keep ahead and counter attack when he was caught. He entered the Roubaix velodrome with over a 50 second lead which allowed him to comfortably take the lap and one half around and savor the victory.
Boonen looked stronger on the day, but could not do much to get away and catch O’Grady. Quick-Step is suffering a poor year for performance in Classics. The team is under-performing this year.
Juan Antonio Flecha gets a place on the podium again after missing out last year.
Fabio Baldato the old man of Lampre was in the mix for a while and finished in tenth place just behind Cyclocrosser Enrico Franzoi.