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 (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.
"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 10 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.
-
-
Ergon SR Allroad Core Comp Men Review - a gravel saddle that smooths rough roads
An affordable, comfortable saddle offered in two different widths
By Tyler Boucher • Published
-
Georg Zimmermann exorcises demons as he takes win on Criterium du Dauphine stage six
Jonas Vingegaard thwarted as he tries to steal some seconds on his GC rivals
By Vern Pitt • Published
-
‘I couldn’t quite believe it’ - Charlie Quarterman on his rags to riches Giro d’Italia selection
The British rider spent a year at amateur level with Philippe Wagner Cycling before heading back to the top with Corratec
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
‘Giving up the Giro breaks my heart’ – Trek’s Giulio Ciccone forced out of home tour by Covid symptoms
Italian was relishing leading Trek’s challenge at Giro that starts in his home region
By Peter Cossins • Published
-
Lizzie Deignan to return to racing at Flèche Wallonne, is a possibility for Liège–Bastogne–Liège
Trek-Segafredo finalise roster for Wednesday's Ardennes Classic, with Deignan returning for the first time since 2021
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Jumbo-Visma perfect until it really mattered: Five things we learned from the men's cobbled Classic season
Tadej Pogačar should be lining up a tilt at Paris-Roubaix, Mathieu van der Poel has won almost everything he can, and Ineos Grenadiers underwhelmed
By Adam Becket • Published
-
‘It was just agony’: Inside the Paris-Roubaix debuts of four young Brits
Josh Tarling, Zoe Bäckstedt, Sam Watson and Alice Towers lived very different days at the Hell of the North
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Two days in hell: The best images from Paris-Roubaix and Paris-Roubaix Femmes
Take a look at our mega-gallery of some of the best photos from a weekend of brutal racing
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'We raced like juniors from start to finish. It was crazy' - Mathieu van der Poel on his Paris-Roubaix victory
Dutchman reflects on a 'strange' day at Paris-Roubaix, the fastest edition in history
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
CW Live: Live updates of men's Paris-Roubaix as Mathieu van der Poel wins; Jasper Philipsen second for Alpecin-Deceuninck 1-2; Wout van Aert third; Peter Sagan abandons in last-ever edition
Follow live updates of the men's Paris-Roubaix where Wout van Aert is among several cards that Jumbo-Visma have to play
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Last updated