107th Paris-Roubaix - HIS

France, April 12, 2009

Photography

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Images by Sirotti/www.sirotti.it

• Tom Boonen (Quick Step) leads Thor Hushovd over a particularly rough section of cobbles.
• Filippo Pozzato (Team Katusha) is on his own in pursuit of Tom Boonen.
• George Hincapie (Columbia - Highroad) rides the center crown.
• Leif Hoste and Johan Van Summeren lead the decisive break.
• Stijn Devolder (Quick Step) displays some batter scars acquired during Paris-Roubaix.
• Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank) peers around Tom Boonen in the Arenberg forest.
• George Hincapie (Columbia - Highroad) concentrates on following Boonen's and Flecha's wheels in the Arenberg forest.
• Steven Cozza (Garmin - Slipstream) made the early move in his first Paris-Roubaix.
• Gregory Henderson (Team Columbia - Highroad ) rides in the early break.
• Brent Bookwalter (BMC Racing Team) finished his first Paris-Roubaix in 88th place.
• Andreas Klier (Cervelo Test Team) made the early break and still managed to finish in 12th place.
• Each sector of pave attracted spectators.
• Jin Long (Skil-Shimano) is the first Chinese cyclist to partake in Paris-Roubaix.
• A pair of motorcycles make way for the peloton.
• Tom Boonen (Quick Step) nears the end of the Arenberg forest.
• Florent Brard (Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne) seeks out a soigneur to deal with the grime.
• A few riders seek relief from the cobbles along a slim sliver of dirt.
• Fans were out in force along the Paris-Roubaix route.
• Tom Boonen (Quick Step) is the center of attention.
• A Caisse d'Epargne rider is bloodied and exhausted in the Roubaix velodrom infield.
• Manuel Quinziato (Liquigas) finished in ninth place.
• Bradley Wiggins (Garmin - Slipstream) finished in 25th place.
• A pair of Columbia-Highroad riders , Edvald Boasson Hagen and Greg Henderson, swap stories about the day's racing.
• Enrico Franzoi (Liquigas) looks a bit shell-shocked after the finish.
• Thousands of fans lined the Arenberg forest cobbles.
• Joost Posthuma (Rabobank) leads the break through the Arenberg forest.
• Heinrich Haussler (Cervelo TestTeam) makes his way through the cobbles of the Arenberg forest.
• A pair of Quick Step riders negotiate the Arenberg forest. Stijn Devolder leads Sylvain Chavanel.
• Filippo Pozzato (Katusha) had to settle for second place.
• The peloton awaits the start in Compiegne.
• Tom Boonen (Quick Step) makes it known that he's won Paris-Roubaix for a third time.
• Tom Boonen raises his arms in triumph within the Roubaix velodrome infield as Patrick Lefevere approaches his star rider.

Images by AFP Photo

• Tom Boonen (Quick Step) steps into history with a third win.
• Tom Boonen gets his third cobble.
• Tom Boonen (Quick Step) takes number three in a dramatic fashion.
• A third for Tom Boonen! The Quick Step rider's uncanny sense for when to attack saved his day.
• The 2009 Paris-Roubaix podium: Filippo Pozzato (Katusha), Tom Boonen (Quick Step) and Thor Hushovd (Cervelo TestTeam)
• The Belgian flag waves behind Tom Boonen as he rides toward an historic third victory in Paris-Roubaix.
• The lead group of six with Boonen and Pozzato leading.
• Fans cheer on Tom Boonen (Quick Step) as he storms toward his third victory.
• A race motorbike crashed into spectators injuring 16.
• Filippo Pozzato (Katusha) is booed by the partisan fans.
• Medics wheel away one of the 16 victims injured in the motorbike crash.
• Thor Hushovd (Cervelo TestTeam) chased his way back onto the podium.

Images by ISPA/www.ispaphoto.be

• A dirty and slightly disappointed Thor Hushovd (Cervélo TestTeam) rolls home.
• Boonen during his solo effort
• Johan Van Summeren (Silence-Lotto) did a superb job for his captain Leif Hoste
• Kevin De Weert (Quick Step) found it easy to smile since his leader won the race.
• The winning break of six on sector 7, Templeuve - Moulin-de-Vertain
• Does Boonen show how often he wants to win Paris-Roubaix? He is at three right now.
• Boonen sure looked like he came straight from hell.
• Boonen was happy to win solo in the velodrome
• Pozzato came in a lap behind and congratulated the Belgian while securing second place.
• Boonen acknowledged it
• Johan Van Summeren (Silence-Lotto) did a superb race and finished fifth.
• Boonen will soon be able to construct his own street.
• The podium with (l-r) runner-up Pozzato, Boonen and Thor Hushovd.

Images by Nicolas Götz/www.sport-phot.com

• Andreas Klier (Cervelo Test Team) before the start.
• Tom Boonen (Quick Step) on the start line.
• Stijn Devolder (Quick Step) looked determined.
• Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) was relaxed despite knowing it would be a big day for his squad.
• The morning breakaway on the cobbles of Monchaux Sur Ecaillon.
• Tom Boonen (Quick Step) gets some encouragement while riding alone on the cobbles of Gruson.
• Johan Van Summeren (Silence Lotto) was just behind Tom Boonen (Quick Step) and Filippo Pozzato (Team Katusha) as he reached Gruson.
• Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) rode to a top 10 finish.
• Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) on the cobbles of Gruson.
• Stijn Devolder (Quick Step) worked hard for his team before finishing 11 minutes behind teammate Tom Boonen.
• Marcus Burghardt (Team Columbia - Highroad) on Gruson.

Images by Tom De Meyer/www.TomDeMeyer.be

• Tom Boonen (Quick Step) had lots of time to celebrate this year, after winning in a close sprint last year.
• Tom Boonen (Quick Step) signals his third victory as he crosses the line.
• Filippo Pozzato (Team Katusha) congratulates Tom Boonen (Quick Step) as he enters the velodrome 47 seconds behind the Belgian.
• Norway's Thor Hushovd (Cervelo Test Team) did his best but could only manage third place.
• Leif Hoste (Silence-Lotto) looked exhausted as he took fourth place.
• Johan Van Summeren (Silence-Lotto) was also feeling the pain as he followed teammate Leif Hoste to the finish line.
• Spain's Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank) took his time in the velodrome, making the most of his one minute buffer over seventh placed Heinrich Haussler (Cervelo Test Team).
• Heinrich Haussler (Cervelo Test Team) made a move in the velodrome to finish two seconds ahead of Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step).
• Italian Manuel Quinziato (Liquigas) was ninth across the line, five minutes behind Tom Boonen (Quick Step).
• It might be for 10th place but after such a long time on the bike, the race was on in this group.
• Denmark's Matti Breschel (Team Saxo Bank) came from behind to claim 10th place from the group of four riders.

Images by Gregor Brown/Cyclingnews

• Leif Hoste (Silence-Lotto) couldn't believe he wasn't the first home.
• The look on Johan Van Summeren's face summed up Silence-Lotto's day.
• Heinrich Haussler (Cervelo Test Team) is interviewed after his seventh place.
• Italian Manuel Quinziato (Liquigas) looked fresh after the finish.
• Swiss rider Alexandre Moos (BMC Racing Team) sure looked like he'd spent a day in hell.
• The Netherland's Martijn Maaskant (Garmin - Slipstream) was unable to repeat his solid performance from years past.
• 100% clean? Well Martijn Maaskant's bike certainly didn't live up to Garmin - Slipstream's statement.
• Locals celebrated in a nearby bar after Tom Boonen (Quick Step) claimed his third win in hell.
• Johnny Weltz of Garmin
• Martijn Maaskant (Garmin - Slipstream)
• The Continental group gets going
• Garmin signs up for hell
• The riders wait for the start
• Continental tire protested the planned shutdown of its plant.
• Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank) was sad that his victory chances ended in a crash.

Images by Brecht Decaluwé/Cyclingnews

• Bernard Hinault on hand at the start.
• Mike Friedman (Garmin-Slipstream) tends to some old wounds before the start.
• Patrick Lefevere (Quick Step manager) was dressed in his Easter best.
• Sean Kelly was at the start, too.
• George Hincapie (Columbia-Highroad) before the start.
• The Silence Lotto riders have fans.
• David Millar (Garmin-Slipstream) watched from the sidelines as his injury is healing up.
• Boonen enters the stadium with a good advantage.
• Pozzato followed a good half minute later.
• Hoste is ready to pounce but there was nothing to do against Hushovd.
• A disappointed Thor can't believe he crashed at such a crucial moment.
• Hoste was upset with Flecha's crash
• Hoste had such a great opportunity today, but it was not meant to be.
• Johan Van Summeren (Silence-Lotto) filled with emotions after a dramatic final.
• Van Summeren looks in disbelief as the team had come so close.
• Hoste and Van Summeren discuss matters but they just didn't have an explanation for want when wrong.
• George Hincapie (Columbia-Highroad) had a flat tyre which started his demise today.
• One of the few happy faces was that of Tom Boonen.
• Aart Vierhouten (Vacansoleil) looks like he is back from a trip to hell.

Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com

• Tom Boonen (Quick Step) solos into the Roubaix velodrome with nothing but open air ahead and behind.
• Boonen looks back but lone chaser Filippo Pozzato is over twenty seconds behind.
• Boonen finally allows himself to celebrate his second Paris-Roubaix victory in two years.
• Boonen has no need to sprint but puts on a show for the throngs of fans in the stands.
• Still no one there, Tom! Time to celebrate.
• Filippo Pozzato (Katusha) came close in the end but just couldn't quite catch Boonen and rolls in for second.
• Johan Van Summeren (Silence-Lotto), Thor Hushovd (Cervélo TestTeam) and Leif Hoste (Silence-Lotto) enter the Roubaix velodrome…
• …but we all know how this match up will end up.
• Hushovd powers in for third place in the 2009 Paris-Roubaix.

Images by Tim Van Wichelen/www.cyclingview.be

• The seven leaders reach Queiévy, the third cobble stone section of the day.
• Leif Hoste (Silence-Lotto) rides in the peloton.
• Tom Boonen (Quick Step) looked at ease early in the race.
• Heinrich Haussler (Cervelo Test Team) kept his head down early on.
• The lead group of seven were still ahead at Monchaux-sur-Ecaillon.
• George Hincapie (Team Columbia - Highroad) was to have another one of those days.
• Tom Boonen (Quick Step) put the hammer down at Gruson with 15 kilometres of racing remaining.
• Filippo Pozatto (Team Katusha) chased after Tom Boonen (Quick Step).
• Silence Lotto's Johan Van Summeren and Leif Hoste were joined by Thor Hushovd (Cervelo Test Team) in their late chase.
• Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank) lost 2:14 minutes in the closing kilometres.
• Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara (Team Saxo Bank) was active early, but finished way down the order.
• Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Columbia - Highroad) finished 12 minutes down, but had already won Gent-Wevelgem this week.

Images by Florian Schaaf/www.cyclingpictures.de

• Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank) looked relaxed on the start line.
• The peloton rolls out as their 259 kilometre journey together starts.
• Belgian Maarten Wynants (Quick Step) leads the early break away group of 11 riders.
• German Andreas Klier (Cervelo Test Team) disgards a bottle during the race.
• A rider falls back into the convoy early in the race.
• Swiss rider Martin Elmiger (AG2R La Mondiale) was one of the first riders to crack.
• Here we go again: The leaders reach sector 23 as their ride through hell continues.
• Can anyone sense confidence on the face of eventual winner Tom Boonen (Quick Step)?
• Former winner Servais Knaven (Team Milram) was one rider in the initial lead group.
• Quick Step's riders worked well together all day to bring Tom Boonen to victory.
• Liquigas worked with Quick Step and Saxo Bank to bring the first group back.
• No prizes for guessing who the local fans wanted to win today.
• Tom Boonen (Quick Step) looked focused on his lap of the Roubaix velodrome, despite having all but won his third title.
• Joy started to show on the face of Tom Boonen (Quick Step) as he passed over the line for the first time.
• Tom Boonen (Quick Step) celebrates three wins as Filippo Pozzato (Team Katusha) starts his first lap of the velodrome.
• Tom Boonen (Quick Step) takes his third win in the Roubaix velodrome.
• Belgian Tom Boonen (Quick Step) wins his third Paris-Roubaix title.
• Spain's Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank) finished in sixth place.
• There were some good old track racing tactics employed by this lot as they readied to sprint for 10th place.
• Tom Boonen (Quick Step) celebrates his third win on the podium.
• Rock'n'roll: Tom Boonen (Quick Step) is collecting that many cobbles, he'll be able to build his own cobbled road soon.
• Tom Boonen (Quick Step) displays his victory count at the famed Paris-Roubaix race.
• Podium (L-R): Filippo Pozzato (Team Katusha), Tom Boonen (Quick Step) and Thor Hushovd (Cervelo Test Team).

Images by Ian Ralph

• Edvald Boasson Hagen (Columbia-Highroad) stops to assist captain George Hincapie (background) with the wheel change.
• No panic yet in the Columbia-Highroad train as the two attend to Hincapie's punctured rear wheel.
• Hincapie patiently waited but a spoke was stuck and the wheel change took longer than necessary.

Reconnaissance

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Images by Tim Van Wichelen /www.cyclingview.be

• The riders did the reconnaissance in their retro outfit.
• Sylvain Chavanel at Orchies
• Kevin De weert
• Tom Boonen
• Sylvain Chavanel at Bourghelles
• The Quickstep group on dusty cobble stones.
• Flanders winner Stijn Devolder.
• Specialized made a special bike for Roubaix.
• Sylvain Chavanel is very happy to be in de Quickstep team.
• Sylain Chavanel.
• Stijn Devolder. Winning Flanders twice is great, but winning Flanders and Roubaix in the same week would be magic!
• Stijn Devolder
• Tom Boonen
• Tom Boonen. P-R is really my race, even more then Flanders.
• A special tag on Boonen's bike.

Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews

• Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) had a quiet spring but may surprise some on Sunday.
• Filippo Pozzato (Katusha) will be looking to get dirty tomorrow, but hopes he'll get a cobble stone in return.
• Tom Boonen (Quick Step) is the favourite for Paris-Roubaix.
• Boonen is the defending champion.
• Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) has proved to be very important for Quick Step.
• Stijn Devolder (Quick Step) tries to double up with a Flanders/Roubaix combo.