Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) underlined his peerless form on the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix, launching a lone attack and rapidly opening up a chasm of time between his frantically chasing rivals.
As the race splintered behind him, Cancellara slipped into time trial mode and rode at his own pace into the legendary Roubaix velodrome where he crossed the line to win his second monument of 2010, and his second Paris-Roubaix.
There may have been dry, dusty conditions but the race still presents a tough test for any rider as they fight against rough cobbles, blustery headwinds and their rivals.
Cycling photographer Graham Watson was there to record the occasion, and we present a selection of his best shots from the day as it unfurled.
Read the full Paris-Roubaix 2010 race report, with results>>
The riders observed a minute's silence before the race start in Compiegne in honour of Franco Ballerini, the Italian Paris-Roubaix winner in 1995 and 1998 who tragically died in a car accident in February
Rabobank's Tom Leezer heads up an early breakaway group
Britain's Jeremy Hunt was part of the early break, and finished a creditable 18th
Despite the dry conditions, there were still spills -
Bjorn Selander took a tumble, but re-mounted to finish the race
Jimmy Engoulvent leads the early escape group
Fans line the road as the riders hit the Orchies sector
Fabian Cancellara already looked in control when the race hit Arenberg
David Millar had been hoping to make a mark on the race after a strong performance at the Tour of Flanders, but it was not to be
Fabian Cancellara caught his rivals napping with a perfectly-timed attack. That was the last any of them saw of the Swiss powerhouse
Triple Roubaix winner Tom Boonen tried to galvanise the chase group into catching Cancellara, but even with their combined might the gap just kept growing
By the time Cancellara crossed the line in the Roubaix velodrome he was two minutes ahead of his nearest rivals, Thor Hushovd and Juan Antonio Flecha
Badday for Tom Boonen: Soundly out-ridden by Cancellara, and then beaten in the sprint for fourth by Britain's Roger Hammond
Related links
Unstoppable Cancellara takes rare double with Paris-Roubaix win
Hammond blasts to fourth in Paris-Roubaix
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