CANCELLARA REMEMBERS PARIS-ROUBAIX SUCCESS WITH TOUR STAGE WIN

Fabian Cancellara stage 3 podium Tour de France 2007

Fabian Cancellara (CSC) was happy to have won another stage in the Tour de France on Tuesday but was especially happy to have won in Compiegne, the town that traditionally hosts the start of Paris-Roubaix, the cobbled-classic Cancellara won in 2006.

Instead of rolling out of the French town towards the cobbles of the ?Hell of the North?, Cancellara surged to victory, proudly wearing the yellow jersey on the long finishing straight. He used his time trialing speed to power past the four breakaways and then held off the sprinters, beating Erik Zabel (Milram) and Danilo Napolitano (Lampre) to the line.

?I?m fast in time trial but winning like this is something else. I was made to work to help my team mates catch the fugitives but then I figured I could have a chance to do something. In the finishing straight I saw the four breakaways and just went for it," Cancellara said happily.

?Paris-Roubaix starts in Compiegne and so winning here means a lot to me. I?m really, really happy. It's difficult to describe because I know I won't have many chances like it. I'm proud to have won a stage wearing the yellow jersey in France."

Thanks to the 20-second time bonus for his stage victory, Cancellara extended his overall lead to 33 seconds ahead of Andreas Kloden (Astana). David Millar (Saunier Duval) is third at 41 seconds, with Bradley Wiggins (Cofidis) still fifth at 43 seconds.

?I?m in great shape and I?d love to keep the jersey for as long as I can. The prologue win has given me a lot of confidence. Now I?ve won two stages and I?ve still got the yellow jersey.?

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