Fabian Cancellara: I'm just happy it's all over
Fabian Cancellara said it was harder to say goodbye to the Tour of Flanders than Paris-Roubaix as his race was ruined by crashes

Fabian Cancellara in his final Paris-Roubaix (Sunada)

Fabian Cancellara (Trek-Segafredo) looked around the velodrome after finishing 40th at 7-35 minutes behind in Paris-Roubaix on Sunday and said, "I'm just happy it's over."
The 35-year-old Swiss hoped to win a fourth title in northern France to end his last Classics campaign with a bang, instead he fell three times during the 255.5-kilometre race and closed well behind winner Mathew Hayman (Orica-GreenEdge).
"Somehow yes and somehow no," Cancellara said when asked if it was difficult to leave the velodrome where he claimed the 2006, 2010 and 2013 titles.
"Last week was harder [in the Tour of Flanders]. Today, I'm just happy that it's over. I'm just happy. I'm not happy about the race, but I'm happy in general. I don't have that much pain in my legs, not from the crashes either, but that's Paris-Roubaix."
Cancellara will ride out the remainder of the 2016 season, targeting the Giro d'Italia's pink jersey and the Tour de France, but this was his last cobbled classic. Besides Roubaix's three titles, he counts three in the Tour of Flanders. Last week, he chased, but could not close to solo winner Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) and placed second.
Team Sky's Servais Knaven talks about Ian Stannard's podium finish at Paris-Roubaix
He and Sagan were caught behind a split that happened on the Quérénaing sector today when Alexander Porsev (Katusha) crashed with 115 kilometres to race. At that point, he sent his team-mates to work, but could not close the gap to the group in front which had Sky's Ian Stannard and Luke Rowe. The final blow came when he slipped on some mud and fell again on the Mons-en-Pévèle sector.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"There was a crash, I jumped into the field and came back, the second one was a bit unlucky, and the third one was just ice-skating. There it was over and I couldn't do anything. Roubaix was gone. The damage was too big and Roubaix was over," he added.
He also fell after the race when he went to greet his fans on the velodrome. It was not the perfect ending to his classics campaigns.
"I didn't have the luck that was needed," he added. "Roubaix started in 2003 bad in a way, if it's going to finish bad too, I don't know. I know that it's a particular race.
"That crash on the mud was when I was ahead at the front, too, but Roubaix is like that, the roads are like that and it happens. I have to look ahead. It's not that my legs that are hurting, I had the legs, but if the race is hard like that, you can't do anything."
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
Can anyone stop Primož Roglič or Juan Ayuso from winning the Giro d’Italia?
Roglič and Ayuso's form suggest they are the two outright favourites for overall victory in Rome next month
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
How to watch Dwars door Vlaanderen 2025: Everything you need to live stream the cobbled Belgian Classic
All the information on broadcasters and live streams for Dwars door Vlaanderen on 2 April, as Wout van Aert, Mads Pedersen, Marianne Vos and Lotte Kopecky take on the cobbles.
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'When he starts his Tour preparation, we’ll then see Jonas 2.0' - Jonas Vingegaard heads to Paris-Nice almost at full strength, coach says
Tim Heemskerk says the Danish star is not interested in outside noise as he attempts second stage race win of the year
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
18-year-old Cat Ferguson set for Paris-Roubaix debut in first pro year
"I can't tell you how excited I am," said junior world champion as she revealed provisional 2025 programme
By Tom Davidson Published
-
I would love to see Tadej Pogačar ride Paris-Roubaix - even if it won’t be this season
The world champion teased everyone with a video of a training ride on the Arenberg Trench
By Adam Becket Published
-
Tadej Pogačar teases Paris-Roubaix debut with Arenberg recon video
Could the world champion ride - and win - in 2025?
By Adam Becket Published
-
Paris-Roubaix Arenberg chicane replaced with 'small detour' for 2025
Race director says new four-turn measure will 'slow down the riders in a more fluid manner'
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'I don’t think it would be a surprise to anyone' - Mathieu van der Poel on Tadej Pogačar winning Paris-Roubaix
Dutchman says current road world champion has already proven he has what it takes to thrive on the cobblestones of the Hell of the North
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Jasper Philipsen: 'All eyes will be on us at the Classics but we will be ready'
Milan-San Remo winner says Alpecin-Decuninck will be prepared to have a target on their back next year
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘I was just on a mad one’ - Lewis Askey reflects back on the ride that helped him turn pro
British rider remembers his victory at Paris-Roubaix juniors
By Tom Thewlis Published