Three crashes put an end to Fabian Cancellera’s dream ending to his career – It was not supposed to end this way
Roubaix – Crash for Cancellera
(photos www.pelotonphotos.com)
A pile-up near the front of the peloton on sector 21 with 120 kilometers remaining of the 257-kilometers split the peloton, leaving two Trek-Segafredo teammates (Boy Van Poppel and Marco Coledan) on the ground and Fabian Cancellara in the second group behind a group of 23-25 riders.
It spelled the beginning of the end.
Over 60 kilometers later the Mons-en-Pévèle sector 10 ultimately thrust the nail into his coffin. Cancellara’s wheels slipped on a muddy section on the sector he had pointed out as the worst of them all in a pre-race press conference.
“The first crash I had to jump into the field and back, the second was just unlucky, and then the third was just like ice-skating, and I could do no nothing, it was over. Roubaix was gone,” explained Cancellara.
Cancellara remounted and continued in pursuit, but the gap to the front was an insurmountable three minutes. The game had ended. Paris-Roubaix is unpredictable. It’s what makes it special. The ‘hell of the north’ takes its victims, weak and strong alike, and often when least expected.
“In the big crash in sector 21 we were only a little bit back,” explained Jasper Stuyven. “But Etixx (Quick Step) and LottoNL-Jumbo pulled hard because they knew Fabian and Sagan were behind. It was a little bit chaotic for us at this moment: Boy and Marco crashed, Greggy had flatted, so we were a little bit all over.
“I had to start working pretty early, and I think everything was still looking okay when Fabian made his acceleration. Then when Fabian crashed, we lost everything.”
Cancellara: “Everything started well. Good sleep, good breakfast, Popo in the break so we had a perfect situation and then suddenly things turned differently.
“I knew it was going to be hard after the split, but also knew it is never over because Roubaix is a tough race. I just kept fighting. It was my last effort, and I knew that if you give up, then it is really over. I gave up maybe 10 or 15kms after my crash because I knew there it was impossible.
That’s Roubaix; I knew it was going to be a special race since it was not everywhere dry.
“I knew to stay up at the front, [to be] careful and really focused for every sector, but yeah…if you ride on second position or on last position, you can do nothing against a crash when it comes.”
It would not be the final spill for Fabian, who slid out again in the velodrome while grabbing a Swiss flag and saluting the fans. Fabian, however, laughed that one off.
“Somehow yes, but somehow no,” Cancellara responded when asked if ending his final Roubaix this way was hard. “Last week was harder (to accept), and I am just happy it is over. I was quite relaxed when I entered the velodrome. This was a different feeling than Flanders; there it was a battle to the end.
“I mean, even crashing on the velodrome in front of my fans I don’t care, because one crash more or less changes nothing for my career. I am just happy in another way, but not happy about the race. Just happy it is done.”
“I just want to enjoy with Popo, our last Roubaix together and his last race,” Cancellara added. “We want to make a loop on the velodrome, then go back to the hotel for a nice evening, celebrating, even though we have not won. But somehow that’s sport, that’s cycling – you can win you can lose, and we can still celebrate all that.”
Paris-Roubaix: Unpredictable in all its glory.
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- TT Result: Manchester & District TTA 10m TT
- TT Result: Northampton & District CA 10m TT
- TT Result: Knockhill Mountain Time Trial
- Youth Result: Lawford Youth Series
- TT Result: Bristol South CC Hardriders
- TT Result: Newmarket Cycling & Triathlon Club TT
- Paracycling Track Worlds Day 4
- Para CyclingWorlds Final Day
- Startlist: National Youth Circuit Series Rd 1
- TT Result: Orwell Velo 15m TT
- TT Result: Hull Thursday RC Hard Riders 2Up
- TT Result: VC Sevale 10m TT
- TT Result: Maldon & District CC Hilly 22m TT
- Youth Result: SCC Youth Races
- Youth Result: ERC Ben Forsyth CRY Youth Race Day
- Report/Result: Azets Spring Classic
- Track Result: Manchester Regional Track League
- Startlists: RCR Fat Creations Road Races
- Crit Result: Not the Portsmouth Easter Circuits
- Crit Result: March Hare Classic
- Crit Result: Haus RT – Darley Moor #3
- Crit Results: Spring MK Bowl Series #3
- Crit Result: No Nonsense Circuit Races 1
- Crit Result: Salt Ayre Spring Series #3
- RR Result: NCRA Handicap RR #3
- RR Result: Halesowen Academy Road Race
- RR Result: Primavera Pursuit Road Race
- Startlist: Capernwray Road Race (March 31)
- TT Result: VTTA Kent 8 mile TT
- TT Result: Kernow Racing Team TT
- TT Result: Banbury Star CC 21m TT
- TT Result: Velo Club St Raphael 16.5 TT
- TT Result: Port Talbot Whs 13m TT
- TT Result: Cleveland Whs Sporting 21.7m TT
- TT Result: Velotik RT 15m TT
- TT Result: Border City Whs Hilly 20.2m TT
- TT Result: Hemel Hempstead CC 16m TT
- Result/Report: Nick Corkill RR
- Team Report: Shibden Apex RT Junior Men
- Crit Result: Schils Spring Circuit Races 2
Other News on VeloUK
- Paracycling Track Worlds Day 4
- Para CyclingWorlds Final Day
- Startlist: National Youth Circuit Series Rd 1
- Report/Result: Azets Spring Classic
- Startlists: RCR Fat Creations Road Races
- Startlist: Capernwray Road Race (March 31)
- Team Report: Fensham Howes MAS Design Junior Team
- Team Report: CiCLE Classic Junior Men
- RIDER REPORTS – Zoe Parker (Solihull CC)
- GB News: Two World Titles for GB at Para Worlds
- Team News: Alba Development Road Team
- News: British Road Champs Return to NE
- THIS WEEKEND: Peaks Two Day is Back!
- News: Laura Kenny Retires
- Team News: Lee Valley Youth Cycling Team
- 2024/25 CYCLO-CROSS CALENDAR
- Startlist: Cardiff Ajax CC 10 Mile TT
- Startlists: 16th Gifford Road Races (Scotland)
- News: Ellingworth is new Tour of Britain Director
- Startlist: Circuit of Ingleborough TT
- STARTLIST: Evesham Vale Road Race 2024
- Mammoth fields for Women’s/Junior Men’s CiCLE Classics
- Saturday: Fusion Media Women’s Series Rd 1
- Saint Piran’s Global Women’s Project
- Ribble Rebellion: The Riders
- Team News: Ribble Rebellion Team Launch
- British Classics – 64th Wally Gimber Trophy
- Startlist: 62nd Eddie Soens
- Startlist: 10th Junior Men’s CiCLE Classic (March 17)
- Startlist: 8th Women’s CiCLE Classic (March 17)
- Startlist: 40th Jock Wadley Memorial RR
- Riders: Azets Spring Classic (March 24)
- Bike News: DJ Spoony’s Special & unique Ribble Ultra SL R
- GB Team News: Helen Scott now Men’s Sprint Podium Potential Coach
- Startlist: Royal Navy Cup 2024
- News: Halesowen Academy 2024
- Report: Day 3 British Track Championships
- New Women’s Series in the Midlands
- News: RideLondon Classique
- Event News: CiCLE Classic (Women & Junior Men)