Belgian cycling ace Tom Boonen was already looking ahead to next week’s ‘Hell of the North’ at Paris-Roubaix — as he digested his runner-up place at the Tour of Flanders.

As Boonen was left picking up the crumbs in the 261.5km classic most dear to the hearts of his fellow Flemish-speaking compatriots, his conqueror, Fabian Cancellara, was savoring another monumental win in his growing list.

Racing alongside Boonen with a healthy advantage on several pelotons and 15km to race,
Cancellara left the Belgian in his wake with an impromptu attack on the steep pitches of the Grammont.

It was the race’s 14th and penultimate cobbled climb, and not even the hundreds of flag-waving Belgians could get Boonen any faster to the summit, which Cancellara crossed with a 15-sec lead.

Till then things had been going “smoothly”, but Cancellara’s move left Boonen suffering cramps — and realizing that his race would soon be over.

“When he attacked I tried to go with him but I had cramping in my legs. He took a lead of about 100 meters, and that was it,” said Boonen.

“If you give him a few meters, you won’t see him again. All I could hope for was to try and beat him in a sprint (duel).”

Cancellara’s lead grew steadily towards the minute mark, leaving Boonen chasing the Olympic time trial champion for the remainder.

“I was racing after him at 55 km/h, and he took a minute off me. What can I say? He was the strongest,” he added.

While Boonen has won the Paris-Roubaix three times in his spectacular career, Cancellara has also lifted the famed cobblestone trophy for the ‘Hell of the North’ in 2008.

Known, rather ominously for his rivals, as ‘Spartacus’ for his gladiator-like style on the bike the big Swiss will now be looking for a rare double next Sunday.

Until then Saxo Bank ace Cancellara — who won another of one-day cycling’s five ‘Monuments’ in Milan-SanRemo in 2008 — is savouring his latest accolade.

“There’s five monuments in cycling and I’ve won three of them. It’s a dream, but it’s so hard to achieve,” he said.

“I didn’t plan the attack on the Grammont, even though it’s a legendary strategic point in the race.

“I saw I was on my own and I simply tried to go as fast as I could.

I’ve been in great form all week, and when you feel 100 percent you feel even stronger mentally.”

Cancellara admitted it had been an “ideal” situation being at the front all alone with Boonen. While the Belgian is a stronger sprinter, he is famous for taking long, audacious attacks all the way home.

Such a tactic helped the Swiss win Paris-Roubaix two years ago, a fact Boonen would do well to remember.

The Belgian, however, was quick to deliver a reminder of his own.

“I’ve already won it three times, and I’ve always been stronger at Paris-Roubaix than at the Tour of Flanders,” said Boonen, who finished runner-up to Spaniard Oscar Freire at Milan-SanRemo two weeks ago.

“My season has been consistent so far. Hopefully I’ll put the cherry on the cake next week.”