TOUR OF FLANDERS

The Tour of Flanders ("Ronde van Vlaanderen") is one of the five Monuments, the most prestigious one-day cycling races. At around 260km, it is one of the most gruelling races in the professional calendar, as the sharp "hills" in the final stages sap the legs and thin out the field. The roads on the hills are usually cobbled, with gradients of up to 20%; if you lose momentum, then there is often no choice but to get off your bike and walk.

The favourites this year were Belgian hero and twice previous winner Tom Boonen, and the Swiss time-trialling powerhouse Fabian Cancellara. Boonen had the advantage of local knowledge, plus a Quickstep team that included the winner for the past two years, Stijn Devolder. Cancellera had the advantage of beating Boonen in a three-man finish in another Belgian race a week ago.

True to form, the duo broke clear on the fiendishly steep Molenberg with 40km to go. They then worked together and gradually carved out a minute's lead before the showdown on the famous Muur in Gerardsbergen, with under 20km to go. Without seeming to accelerate or even standing up in the saddle, Cancellera simply dropped his rival on the steepest section and had a 10-second lead by the chapel at the top. That was a big enough gap for the time-trial expert, who cruised home with a tail-wind to win by just over a minute. A truly great victory.

The two will line up next weekend for Paris-Roubaix, another Monument, and another cobblestone monster. Boonen has won it three times, Cancellara once. With a much flatter profile, it ought to suit Cancellara better than the Ronde. And after today's performance, the odds must be slightly on the Swiss to do the double.

Walter Blotscher