In this "mountain" along 360 meters, with an average slope approaching 13 percent with a 20 percent passing, Roelandts won the first. Sagan, in turn, was asphyxiated by the pace of Cancellara turned at the top with 6 seconds. But Switzerland has quickly widened the gap thereafter, on the road leading back to Oudenaarde. After this against the clock, an exercise that allowed him to win Olympic gold (2008) and four world titles, Cancellara was preceded by nearly a minute and a half Sagan and Roelandts who crossed the line in that order. A few seconds before the first sprint of the pack, set by the Norwegian Alexander Kristoff before Béarnais the FDJ Matthew Ladagnous. Finally, we also noted that five French (Ladagnous, Turgot, Offredo, Chavanel and Jerome are in the top 20).

"The two strongest were before," admitted Sylvain Chavanel (13th), the French promoted leader of the Omega Pharma team after the premature withdrawal of defending champion, Belgian Tom Boonen, who fell from the 19th km . But, given the recital issued by the winner on a course that delivers a relentless and predictable verdict, it appears unlikely that the presence of the triple winner of the "Ronde van Vlaanderen" would have changed the outcome. Boonen, who suffers no fracture, but has been asked stitches, also not be out of Paris-Roubaix on Sunday, said Patrick Lefevere, his manager.

On the line, located at an altitude of 957 meters, preceded teammate Froome 30 seconds to become the first British winner of the event since Chris Boardman in 1996.

"We agreed with Chris," said Holder, who won two weeks ago in Paris-Nice. "He came to that which had good legs to attack. When there was a gap behind him, nobody reacted. He must have continued effort. "

"Froomie" second last year's Tour de France, endorsed with visible pleasure he hopes the yellow jersey wearing next summer in the 100th edition of the Tour which will start on June 29 Porto Vecchio.

"This course has allowed me to see how I could have confidence in my team for the Tour," said the Briton. "We answered all attacks", including the offensive by Thomas Voeckler 60 kilometers from the finish in order to anticipate the rise of the Ospedale.

In this ascent, everything went according to a predictable scenario when training are presented Sky superior army. Even if all collective dominance is not necessarily good news in cycling, still traumatized by events such as numbers Gewiss team in the Flèche Wallonne 1994, the armada Festina then or in the U.S. Postal Tours of the time Armstrong.