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After a thriller of a race this year's edition of Paris-Roubaix came to an end with victory to Tom Boonen (Quick Step) ahead of Fabian Cancellara and Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) after a sprint finish at the velodrome in Roubaix. The trio escaped the other favorites with 34 kilometers left of the race and no one was able to catch them.
Behind the three Stuart O'Grady took a great fifth place, while Matti Breschel, Marcus Ljungqvist and Allan Johansen also did well. The latter smashed his bike in a crash towards the end and had to wait two minutes for a new one so he lost his chance of a top spot.
"I think the whole team including myself did really great in this year’s edition of Paris-Roubaix. Of course I’d hoped to win this one, but Tom Boonen was stronger than me once we reached the Velodrome. I tried to drop them a couple of times on the cobble stones, but when I couldn’t the only thing left to do was to wait and battle it out at the Velodrome," said Cancellara after the race and continued.
"I’m not disappointed loosing to a rider of his caliber and on the whole the entire team has every reason to be proud of the spring we’ve had. A big thanks to my teammates, who put me in a position, where I was able to compete for the victory out there today. Everyone on the team has a share in the results we’ve achieved in this season so far.
"I think it was a great race and we did well both as far as tactics and strength go. We were up front like we should be and even though we didn’t win today, we did our absolute best and that’s all anyone can ask. During the final five kilometers Fabian Cancellara reported back to us that his entire body was cramped up and he wasn’t able to attack anymore, so he had to take the duel in Roubaix. But hey – we’ll try again next year," smiled team owner Bjarne Riis.
Jesper Schultz
TEAM CSC
12.15.08 - Ryan Trebon rides Alpha Q CX20 to national championship title, again.
07.20.08 - New Alpha Q GS40 takes Yellow Jersey
07.09.08 - Tricked out Tour de France bike; A Velonews review
06.23.08 - TEAM CSC chooses nine athletes to ride at the Tour De France
06.20.08 - Fabulous Solo Victory in Tour de Suisse for Alpha Q
06.14.08 - Victory in Dauphiné Libéré stage 6 for GS10
05.29.08 - Alpha Q Grand Tour Series ridden to stage victory in Giro D'Italia again
05.01.08 - Kroon Wins Classic German Race
04.14.08 - GS10 on Paris-Roubaix podium for 3rd consecutive year
04.08.08 - Kirchen Took Second Stage
04.01.08 - Fantastic March for Team CSC
03.30.08 - Double Victory for Team CSC in Criterium International
03.29.08 - Monumental Victory for Arvesen
03.22.08 - Fantastic Victory for Fabian Cancellara
03.18.08 - Cancellara Won Tirreno-Adriatico
03.16.08 - Cancellara Won Stage and Leader's Jersey
03.08.08 - Victory for Cancellara in Monte Paschi Eroica
03.06.08 - Haedo's Fifth Victory this Year
03.02.08 - Tenth Team CSC Victory for Haedo
02.18.08 - Cancellara Opens with Convincing Victory
01.28.08 - Haedo Won the Final Stage
01.24.08 - Victory for J.J. Haedo in Argentina
