Tom Boonen wins the Paris-Roubaix 2012
Tom Boonen of Team Omega Pharma-Quick Step became part of the history with his outstanding performance during the Paris-Roubaix.
The cyclist crossed the finish line in a fastest time of 5 hours, 55 minutes and 22 seconds to grab the top podium position.
Sebastien Turgot of Team Europcar achieved the second position with a deficit of 1 minute and 39 seconds.
Alessandro Ballan, Juan Antonio Flecha and Niki Terpstra finished at the third, the fourth and the fifth positions in the respective order.
Boonen rode brilliantly and was not challenged by any cyclist towards the end of the race.
He rode the final 50 kilometres alone and recorded a solo victory at the tenth biggest race of the season.
Boonen has now equalled Roger De Vlaeminck’s record of most number of four wins at Paris-Roubaix.
He has also achieved the honour of winning the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix in a same year for the second time.
The Belgian was over the moon after filling his bag with such a precious victory, "I was not really thinking about the winning race or doing a record", he briefed.
He further added that, "I was just fighting myself. I was taking it step by step, cobblestone by cobblestone, kilometre by kilometre”.
“I think if you start thinking about the 60 or 57 km, which is when I left, it's nearly impossible. It is all in your mind. I was really thinking about my lead”.
“With the gap at 30 seconds I was trying to take it second by second. I was trying not to push it right away to one minute, tried not to force myself”.
Boonen is enjoying a terrific season, he has already secured as many as nine wins in the young season.
Tom has now strengthened his grip on the UCI World Tour Elite Men category. He is now leading the classifications with a total amount of 366 UCI points in his pocket.
Simon Gerrans of Team GreenEdge is at the second position with 210 points while Samuel Sanchez occupying the third spot with 208 points to his credit.
Team Omega Pharma-Quick Step is leading the Team’s classifications with as much as 66% of the total points coming through Boonen.
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