World champion Peter Sagan has won the first big classic race of the year with a solo victory in the 100th edition of the Tour of Flanders.
Sagan, who claimed the world title last September in Richmond, Virginia won ahead of three-time winner Fabian Cancellara, who was competing in his final Tour of Flanders. Sep Vanmarcke was third.
Sagan dropped Vanmarcke in the Paterberg on Sunday, a brutal cobbled ascent with a maximum gradient of 20 per cent, then resisted Cancellara’s return.
Sagan was so strong in the finale that he increased the gap over the former time trial world champion in the last five kilometres of the 255-kilometre Monument race.
The Tour of Flanders is part of a group of five high-profile classics called the Monument that also includes Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix, Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the Giro di Lombardia.
Freycinet1803
Roar Rookie
It was a great ride by Sagan. I loved his comment at the end when asked why he kept pushing when he could have waited for the two chasers and simply out-sprinted them. It was along the lines of "no one wants to work with me, so I just do it myself. Kwitasoki was about the only one who helped in when they tried to breach the gap to the leaders, and about the only one that helped keep the break away with a fast approaching peloton. He is definitely a fresh breath for the sport and a great rider (who is very exciting). The Gladiators body language didn't look strong on the chase to the line (shoulders and hips swinging lots ... think he tried his hardest but the day had taken it's toll). I loved Sagan's wheelie at the end too (most riders collapsed over the line).