MEERBEKE (Belgium), April 4, 2010 (AFP) – Fabian Cancellara (SUI / Saxo Bank), Winner:
“I was not planning to attack the wall of Grammont although it is a place of legend and if there he’d better try. I found myself alone and I tried to drive as soon as possible thereafter. Since last week, I feel strong. When you feel one hundred per cent, it is even harder psychologically. In the last three kilometers I realized it was won . I used these moments. This is the result of hard work, of what made the team too, with my family. We’re not at the top by random. five monuments (large conventional) in cycling and I won three (Paris-Roubaix, Milan-Sanremo, Tour of Flanders). It’s a dream to win a monument, it’s always hard to achieve. Being alone with Boonen and go alone, it was the ideal scenario. In the morning, we said he had to sit with Boonen and Devolder in the sequence of Kwaremont, Paterberg, Koppenberg.
Then I had to change bike, I tried to go without straining ahead. He had to adjust tactics. Arriving with the responsibility of favorites and winning is the top. The last time a Swiss rider is mounted on the podium, it was in 1992 (Thomas Wegmuller, 2nd). Now, I’m happy. ”

Tom Boonen (Bel / Quick Step), 2nd: “I’m disappointed, of course. I was not bad today, I have had no bad time. But when (Cancellara) has accelerated, I tried to follow and I felt like cramps in the legs. It took a hundred meters and there. I had nothing, no evidence, to predict that. I was driving at 55 km / h and it ends with a minute ahead. What say? It was stronger. If he leaves a few meters, is seen no more. I could only hope to beat in a sprint.

Paris-Roubaix? I have already won three times and I have always been better than in Paris-Roubaix Tour of Flanders. My season has been steady. I will try to put the icing on the cake, which I miss. ”

Philippe Gilbert (BEL / Omega Pharma), 3rd: “When Cancellara and Boonen went into the Molenberg, I could not answer. I was not well placed.
After it was too late to return. With Leukemans and Millar, we have worked well but we have not resumed. Now, I will dedicate myself to the Ardennes classics. I will not run the Paris-Roubaix. I’m going home (in Monaco) to train. ”

Lance Armstrong (USA / RadioShack), 27th: “It was a real tough race. I felt better than expected. I am very SATIF how it happened.”

Bjarne Riis (sporting director Cancellara): “Fabian is in great shape.
He wanted to win today, it was very strong. The wall of Grammont? It often starts sitting. It is not a rider who puts a lot as a dancer, he has the strength for that. It has the advantage of starting from a distance.

When he is given fifteen seconds it’s over … Paris-Roubaix is the next goal. ”