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.