In the race of 'Vans' over the 'Bergs' it was the 'Can' who spoiled the Belgians party, again

It was a Tour of Flanders for the ages. Action packed with cobbled climbs, attacks, suffering and an historic win for Fabian Cancellara who not only won the race on back-to-back years but tied the record for three wins in Belgium's version of the World Cup final.

Second to Cancellara was BMC rider and Belgian, Greg Van Avermaet, and it was he who truly set the race alight in the closing stages over the toughest climbs. Van Avermaet went clear with 37 kilometres and several cobbled hills left and when he made his move he dragged Omega Pharma Quick Step domestique and outside bet, Stijn Vandenbergh with him.

Now, because Vandenbergh's team leader Tom Boonen, along with team-mates Zednek Stybar and Niki Terpstra were in the every-shrinking-by-the-berg group behind, Vandenbergh was ordered not to assist Van Avermaet. The thinking was that he would burn himself out working, they would be reeled in and one of the other three would go on the attack.

But it looked to me as though it had the making of a winning move had Vandenbergh been allowed to work. Other moves had been made before from several riders hoping for it to be the decisive one, but this one looked to be sticking. Bringing them back into the fold only opened the door once more for the likes of Peter Sagan and Cancellara. Indeed, OPQS's thinking was to let Sagan tire himself out chasing -- one part of the tactic that appeared to work -- but as the result would later show with Vandenbergh finishing forth and the best of his OPQS team, he should have been allowed to work with Van Avermaet.

That's why for me Van Avermaet was the man of the day, despite Cancellara's brilliantly timed ride to victory. He powered on the front with Vandenbergh glued to his wheel while the others tried to claw them back. Only once the small group behind were caught by the slightly larger group behind that -- finally giving an isolated Sagan some team support -- did the gap come drastically down.

Then, on the third and final run up the Oude Kwaremont, Cancellara put the hammer down in a style all his own and he blew the race apart. He dragged Sep Vanmarcke with him, just as he had done at last years Paris-Roubaix and they linked up with Vandenbergh who by this stage had been dropped by the impressive Van Avermaet.

I don't know about anyone else but I was all but yelling at my dodgy online stream for Van Avermaet to hang on as the three behind chipped away at his lead. He deserved to after the move he made and the way in which he'd ridden it. It wasn't to be though and soon the lead had become a group of four: The three 'Van's' of Belgium and the Suisse 'Can'. Behind Sagan was reeling. Dropped on that final climb his legs were showing the exhaustion of doing so much of the chasing and the race was slipping away up the road. A small group formed and tried to close the gap but by now it was too late.

They did get close and it allowed names like my pre-race pick to win, Niki Terpstra, and Milan-San Remo winner, Alexander Kristoff, to spring off the front, but not close enough. Indeed, the time gaps at the finish were only as close as they were because in the final 500 metres the quartet at the front almost came to a stand still as the game of cat and mouse began to see who would lead out the sprint. With little more than 200 metres left Cancellara kicked and Van Avermaet reacted.

On most days Van Avermaet would beat Cancellara in a sprint but after 259 kilometres and after all his previous efforts the Belgian couldn't draw alongside the reigning champion, two time winner, set to become champion again and three time winner. Cancellara threw the arms up and took a glorious victory in what was a brilliant race.

Result:

1. Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory) in 6h 15'18

2. Greg Van Avermaet (BMC)

3. Sep Vanmarcke (Belkin)

4. Stijn Vandenbergh (OPQS) all at s.t.

5. Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) + 8"

6. Niki Terpstra (OPQS) + 18"

7. Tom Boonen (OPQS) + 35"

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16. Peter Sagan (Cannondale) + 1'25"