Peter Sagan wins the Tour of Flanders

Reigning road world champion Peter Sagan finally has his monument. The 26-year-old Tinkoff rider joined a small escape group going over the last few climbs of the 100th Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) Sunday and outlasted the rest of his companions, rolling down the finishing straight solo to take the win.

Sagan held off a spirited late chase by Fabian Cancellara (Trek – Segafredo), who missed the move, and Sep Vanmarcke (LottoNL – Jumbo), who was the last rider dropped from it, over the closing kilometers. Cancellara finished as runner-up, waving to fans as he crossed the line in his final Tour of Flanders, denied what would have been a record-breaking fourth career victory. Vanmarcke took third, while 2015 winner Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) won the sprint for fourth place after a tough day that saw several big names – among them BMC’s Greg Van Avermaet – crash out.

“It was super hard, the race. From the start until the finish, it was always full gas,” Sagan said. “I had a little problem after 100 kilometers — I had to change both wheels because I broke a wheel. There were a lot of crashes. Thanks to all the team, because they did a very good job.

“We have to think also about two guys [Antoine Demoitié and Daan Myngheer] dying last week. It’s very sad. I want to dedicate this to them.”

Top 10

• 1. Peter SAGAN, TINKOFF, in 6:10:42
• 2. Fabian CANCELLARA, TREK – SEGAFREDO, at :25
• 3. Sep VANMARCKE, TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO, at :27
• 4. Alexander KRISTOFF, TEAM KATUSHA, at :48
• 5. Luke ROWE, TEAM SKY, at :48
• 6. Dylan VAN BAARLE, CANNONDALE PRO CYCLING TEAM, at :48
• 7. Imanol ERVITI, MOVISTAR TEAM, at :48
• 8. Zdenek STYBAR, ETIXX – QUICK STEP, at :48
• 9. Dimitri CLAEYS, WANTY – GROUPE GOBERT, at :48
• 10. Niki TERPSTRA, ETIXX – QUICK STEP, at :48

Sagan has won multiple green jerseys at the Tour de France and has taken countless sprint victories in his career, but he decided to rely on his soloing skills in Flanders.

With a breakaway group still up the road, the world champ latched onto a move out of the group of favorites with Sky’s Michal Kwiatkowski around 30 kilometers from the finish, and the pair quickly opened a gap. LottoNL – Jumbo’s Sep Vanmarcke joined them moments later and the trio worked hard to close down the distance to the breakaway that included André Greipel (Lotto – Soudal) and Stijn Vandenbergh (Etixx – Quick-Step), making for a strong lead group just ahead of the last two climbs of the race.

Fabian Cancellara (Trek – Segafredo) hung near the front of the chasers hoping to close down the advantage on the upcoming cobblestones.

As the leaders hit the Oude Kwaremont, the penultimate climb on the route, the escape group began to disintegrate. Sagan and Vanmarcke pushed on as the rest of the breakers lost ground. Meanwhile, Cancellara charged through the fading remnants of the move in pursuit of the two riders off the front. Sagan and Vanmarcke crested the Kwaremont and then reached the foot of the Paterberg as the race leaders, with Cancellara furiously chasing behind.

The Paterberg gave Sagan his opportunity to take matters into his own hands for good. He put Vanmarcke in his rearview mirror without even leaving the saddle on the steep, cobbled slopes of De Ronde’s final climb.

The man in the rainbow stripes went up and over the Paterberg alone and not even the joint efforts of Cancellara and his new chase companion Vanmarcke could reel him in. Sagan rode the final 13km solo and took a convincing win with a 25-second gap over runner-up Cancellara.

“It’s very hard to work with other guys, because nobody wants to work with me. It’s always better to drop everybody, I think,” he said.

As the Flanders winner, Sagan is now a natural top favorite for next weekend’s Paris-Roubaix, but he wants to soak in the joy of finally picking up a Flanders victory before he focuses too hard on the cobblestones of northern France.

“I’m very happy for this. I want to have fun after this big victory. Next week we’ll think [about] next week,” he said.

Sagan’s win marked a particularly impressive day for rainbow jersey wearers — world champ Elizabeth Armitstead won the women’s race Sunday, making road world champions two for two in the 100th edition of the Tour of Flanders.

Tour of Flanders results

• 1. Peter SAGAN, TINKOFF, in 6:10:37
• 2. Fabian CANCELLARA, TREK – SEGAFREDO, at :25
• 3. Sep VANMARCKE, TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO, at :28
• 4. Alexander KRISTOFF, TEAM KATUSHA, at :49
• 5. Luke ROWE, TEAM SKY, at :49
• 6. Dylan VAN BAARLE, CANNONDALE PRO CYCLING TEAM, at :49
• 7. Imanol ERVITI, MOVISTAR TEAM, at :49
• 8. Zdenek STYBAR, ETIXX – QUICK STEP, at :49
• 9. Dimitri CLAEYS, WANTY – GROUPE GOBERT, at :49
• 10. Niki TERPSTRA, ETIXX – QUICK STEP, at :49
• 11. Lars BOOM, ASTANA PRO TEAM, at :49
• 12. Geraint THOMAS, TEAM SKY, at :49
• 13. Stijn VANDENBERGH, ETIXX – QUICK STEP, at :56
• 14. Alexey LUTSENKO, ASTANA PRO TEAM, at 1:00
• 15. Tom BOONEN, ETIXX – QUICK STEP, at 1:00
• 16. Daniel OSS, BMC RACING TEAM, at 1:02
• 17. Jurgen ROELANDTS, LOTTO SOUDAL, at 1:16
• 18. Laurens DE VREESE, ASTANA PRO TEAM, at 1:16
• 19. Jean-Pierre DRUCKER, BMC RACING TEAM, at 1:16
• 20. Scott THWAITES, BORA-ARGON 18, at 1:16
• 21. Jens KEUKELEIRE, ORICA – GreenEDGE, at 1:16
• 22. Oliver NAESEN, IAM CYCLING, at 1:16
• 23. Edvald BOASSON HAGEN, DIMENSION DATA, at 1:16
• 24. Marco MARCATO, WANTY – GROUPE GOBERT, at 1:16
• 25. Jakob FUGLSANG, ASTANA PRO TEAM, at 1:16
• 26. Oscar GATTO, TINKOFF, at 1:45
• 27. Michal KWIATKOWSKI, TEAM SKY, at 1:57
• 28. André GREIPEL, LOTTO SOUDAL, at 2:01
• 29. Michael MORKOV, TEAM KATUSHA, at 2:01
• 30. Gijs VAN HOECKE, TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN – BALOISE, at 2:03
• 31. Damien GAUDIN, AG2R LA MONDIALE, at 2:03
• 32. Ian STANNARD, TEAM SKY, at 2:09
• 33. Sylvain CHAVANEL, DIRECT ENERGIE, at 5:35
• 34. Matteo TRENTIN, ETIXX – QUICK STEP, at 5:35
• 35. Juan Jose LOBATO DEL VALLE, MOVISTAR TEAM, at 7:19
• 36. Luka MEZGEC, ORICA – GreenEDGE, at 7:19
• 37. Tom DEVRIENDT, WANTY – GROUPE GOBERT, at 7:19
• 38. Edward THEUNS, TREK – SEGAFREDO, at 7:19
• 39. Tom VAN ASBROECK, TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO, at 7:19
• 40. Lars Ytting BAK, LOTTO SOUDAL, at 7:19
• 41. Jasper DE BUYST, LOTTO SOUDAL, at 7:19
• 42. Roger KLUGE, IAM CYCLING, at 7:19
• 43. Marcel SIEBERG, LOTTO SOUDAL, at 7:19
• 44. Mickael DELAGE, FDJ, at 7:19
• 45. Juraj SAGAN, TINKOFF, at 7:19
• 46. Adrien PETIT, DIRECT ENERGIE, at 7:19
• 47. Sjoerd VAN GINNEKEN, ROOMPOT – ORANJE PELOTON, at 7:19
• 48. Timo ROOSEN, TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO, at 7:19
• 49. Frederik BACKAERT, WANTY – GROUPE GOBERT, at 7:19
• 50. Jasha SÜTTERLIN, MOVISTAR TEAM, at 7:19
• 51. Stijn STEELS, TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN – BALOISE, at 7:19
• 52. Antoine DUCHESNE, DIRECT ENERGIE, at 7:19
• 53. Magnus Cort NIELSEN, ORICA – GreenEDGE, at 7:19
• 54. Gatis SMUKULIS, ASTANA PRO TEAM, at 7:19
• 55. Toms SKUJINS, CANNONDALE PRO CYCLING TEAM, at 7:19
• 56. Mike TEUNISSEN, TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO, at 7:19
• 57. Jesse SERGENT, AG2R LA MONDIALE, at 7:19
• 58. Zakkari DEMPSTER, BORA-ARGON 18, at 7:19
• 59. Berden DE VRIES, ROOMPOT – ORANJE PELOTON, at 7:19
• 60. Stefan KUENG, BMC RACING TEAM, at 7:19
• 61. Taylor PHINNEY, BMC RACING TEAM, at 7:19
• 62. Tim DECLERCQ, TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN – BALOISE, at 7:19
• 63. Pim LIGTHART, LOTTO SOUDAL, at 7:19
• 64. Andrey AMADOR BIKKAZAKOVA, MOVISTAR TEAM, at 7:19
• 65. Roy CURVERS, TEAM GIANT – ALPECIN, at 7:19
• 66. Alexandre PICHOT, DIRECT ENERGIE, at 7:19
• 67. Bert DE BACKER, TEAM GIANT – ALPECIN, at 7:19
• 68. Reto HOLLENSTEIN, IAM CYCLING, at 7:19
• 69. Jaroslaw MARYCZ, CCC SPRANDI POLKOWICE, at 7:19
• 70. Vegard Stake LAENGEN, IAM CYCLING, at 7:19
• 71. Luke DURBRIDGE, ORICA – GreenEDGE, at 7:19
• 72. Christian KNEES, TEAM SKY, at 7:19
• 73. Andreas SCHILLINGER, BORA-ARGON 18, at 7:19
• 74. Preben VAN HECKE, TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN – BALOISE, at 7:19
• 75. Filippo POZZATO, SOUTHEAST – VENEZUELA, at 7:19
• 76. Alan MARANGONI, CANNONDALE PRO CYCLING TEAM, at 7:19
• 77. Gianni MOSCON, TEAM SKY, at 7:19
• 78. Sébastien MINARD, AG2R LA MONDIALE, at 7:19
• 79. Yaroslav POPOVYCH, TREK – SEGAFREDO, at 7:19
• 80. Markel IRIZAR ARANBURU, TREK – SEGAFREDO, at 7:19
• 81. Jacopo GUARNIERI, TEAM KATUSHA, at 7:19
• 82. Salvatore PUCCIO, TEAM SKY, at 7:19
• 83. Bjorn THURAU, WANTY – GROUPE GOBERT, at 7:19
• 84. Dmitriy GRUZDEV, ASTANA PRO TEAM, at 7:19
• 85. Jan BARTA, BORA-ARGON 18, at 7:19
• 86. Pavel BRUTT, TINKOFF, at 7:19
• 87. Zico WAEYTENS, TEAM GIANT – ALPECIN, at 7:19
• 88. Reinardt JANSE VAN RENSBURG, DIMENSION DATA, at 7:19
• 89. Nils POLITT, TEAM KATUSHA, at 7:19
• 90. Mitchell DOCKER, ORICA – GreenEDGE, at 7:19
• 91. Maarten WYNANTS, TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO, at 7:19
• 92. Pieter WEENING, ROOMPOT – ORANJE PELOTON, at 7:19
• 93. Ramon SINKELDAM, TEAM GIANT – ALPECIN, at 7:19
• 94. Stijn DEVOLDER, TREK – SEGAFREDO, at 7:32
• 95. Maarten TJALLINGII, TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO, at 12:48
• 96. Murilo Antonio FISCHER, FDJ, at 12:48
• 97. Olivier LE GAC, FDJ, at 12:48
• 98. Yohann GENE, DIRECT ENERGIE, at 12:48
• 99. Iljo KEISSE, ETIXX – QUICK STEP, at 12:48
• 100. Simone PONZI, CCC SPRANDI POLKOWICE, at 12:48
• 101. Michal GOLAS, TEAM SKY, at 12:48
• 102. Adrian KUREK, CCC SPRANDI POLKOWICE, at 12:48
• 103. Josef CERNY, CCC SPRANDI POLKOWICE, at 12:48
• 104. Federico ZURLO, LAMPRE – MERIDA, at 12:48
• 105. Tomasz KIENDYS, CCC SPRANDI POLKOWICE, at 12:48
• 106. Jesper ASSELMAN, ROOMPOT – ORANJE PELOTON, at 12:48
• 107. Nikolas MAES, ETIXX – QUICK STEP, at 12:48
• 108. Michael GOGL, TINKOFF, at 12:48
• 109. Ryan ANDERSON, DIRECT ENERGIE, at 12:48
• 110. Ignatas KONOVALOVAS, FDJ, at 12:48
• 111. Hugo HOULE, AG2R LA MONDIALE, at 12:48
• 112. Tony MARTIN, ETIXX – QUICK STEP, at 12:48
• 113. Marco HALLER, TEAM KATUSHA, at 12:48
• 114. Sebastian LANGEVELD, CANNONDALE PRO CYCLING TEAM, at 12:48
• 115. Michel KREDER, ROOMPOT – ORANJE PELOTON, at 12:48
• 116. Sergey LAGUTIN, TEAM KATUSHA, at 12:48
• 117. Tyler FARRAR, DIMENSION DATA, at 12:48
• 118. Jasper STUYVEN, TREK – SEGAFREDO, at 12:48
• DNF Aleksei TCATEVICH, TEAM KATUSHA
• DNF Viacheslav KUZNETSOV, TEAM KATUSHA
• DNF Adam BLYTHE, TINKOFF
• DNF Michal KOLÁR, TINKOFF
• DNF Nikolay TRUSOV, TINKOFF
• DNF Tiesj BENOOT, LOTTO SOUDAL
• DNF Jelle WALLAYS, LOTTO SOUDAL
• DNF Grégory RAST, TREK – SEGAFREDO
• DNF Marco COLEDAN, TREK – SEGAFREDO
• DNF Greg VAN AVERMAET, BMC RACING TEAM
• DNF Manuel QUINZIATO, BMC RACING TEAM
• DNF Michael SCHÄR, BMC RACING TEAM
• DNF Marcus BURGHARDT, BMC RACING TEAM
• DNF Bram TANKINK, TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO
• DNF Robert WAGNER, TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO
• DNF Matt BRAMMEIER, DIMENSION DATA
• DNF Nick DOUGALL, DIMENSION DATA
• DNF Bernhard EISEL, DIMENSION DATA
• DNF Mark RENSHAW, DIMENSION DATA
• DNF Jay Robert THOMSON, DIMENSION DATA
• DNF Gediminas BAGDONAS, AG2R LA MONDIALE
• DNF Maxime DANIEL, AG2R LA MONDIALE
• DNF Nico DENZ, AG2R LA MONDIALE
• DNF Sébastien TURGOT, AG2R LA MONDIALE
• DNF Andriy GRIVKO, ASTANA PRO TEAM
• DNF Lieuwe WESTRA, ASTANA PRO TEAM
• DNF Jack BAUER, CANNONDALE PRO CYCLING TEAM
• DNF Alberto BETTIOL, CANNONDALE PRO CYCLING TEAM
• DNF Matti BRESCHEL, CANNONDALE PRO CYCLING TEAM
• DNF Kristoffer SKJERPING, CANNONDALE PRO CYCLING TEAM
• DNF Arnaud DEMARE, FDJ
• DNF Marc SARREAU, FDJ
• DNF Matthieu LADAGNOUS, FDJ
• DNF Johan LE BON, FDJ
• DNF Heinrich HAUSSLER, IAM CYCLING
• DNF Martin ELMIGER, IAM CYCLING
• DNF Dries DEVENYNS, IAM CYCLING
• DNF Aleksejs SARAMOTINS, IAM CYCLING
• DNF Davide CIMOLAI, LAMPRE – MERIDA
• DNF Gang XU, LAMPRE – MERIDA
• DNF Chun Kai FENG, LAMPRE – MERIDA
• DNF Roberto FERRARI, LAMPRE – MERIDA
• DNF Marko KUMP, LAMPRE – MERIDA
• DNF Sacha MODOLO, LAMPRE – MERIDA
• DNF Luka PIBERNIK, LAMPRE – MERIDA
• DNF Jorge ARCAS PENA, MOVISTAR TEAM
• DNF Nelson Filipe SANTOS SIMOES OLIVEIRA, MOVISTAR TEAM
• DNF Dayer Uberney QUINTANA ROJAS, MOVISTAR TEAM
• DNF Francisco José VENTOSO ALBERDI, MOVISTAR TEAM
• DNF Sam BEWLEY, ORICA – GreenEDGE
• DNF Jack HAIG, ORICA – GreenEDGE
• DNF Svein TUFT, ORICA – GreenEDGE
• DNF Søren Kragh ANDERSEN, TEAM GIANT – ALPECIN
• DNF Nikias ARNDT, TEAM GIANT – ALPECIN
• DNF Koen DE KORT, TEAM GIANT – ALPECIN
• DNF Albert TIMMER, TEAM GIANT – ALPECIN
• DNF Jonas RICKAERT, TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN – BALOISE
• DNF Amaury CAPIOT, TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN – BALOISE
• DNF Bert VAN LERBERGHE, TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN – BALOISE
• DNF Pieter VANSPEYBROUCK, TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN – BALOISE
• DNF Jérôme BAUGNIES, WANTY – GROUPE GOBERT
• DNF Kenny DE HAES, WANTY – GROUPE GOBERT
• DNF Kevin VAN MELSEN, WANTY – GROUPE GOBERT
• DNF Shane ARCHBOLD, BORA-ARGON 18
• DNF Ralf MATZKA, BORA-ARGON 18
• DNF Michael SCHWARZMANN, BORA-ARGON 18
• DNF Lukas PÖSTLBERGER, BORA-ARGON 18
• DNF Nikolay MIHAYLOV, CCC SPRANDI POLKOWICE
• DNF Michal PALUTA, CCC SPRANDI POLKOWICE
• DNF Patryk STOSZ, CCC SPRANDI POLKOWICE
• DNF Romain CARDIS, DIRECT ENERGIE
• DNF Julien MORICE, DIRECT ENERGIE
• DNF Kai REUS, ROOMPOT – ORANJE PELOTON
• DNF Wesley KREDER, ROOMPOT – ORANJE PELOTON
• DNF Ivar SLIK, ROOMPOT – ORANJE PELOTON
• DNF Andrea DAL COL, SOUTHEAST – VENEZUELA
• DNF Giuseppe FONZI, SOUTHEAST – VENEZUELA
• DNF Matteo DRAPERI, SOUTHEAST – VENEZUELA
• DNF Mirko TEDESCHI, SOUTHEAST – VENEZUELA
• DNF Mirko TROSINO, SOUTHEAST – VENEZUELA
• DNF Enrique SANZ, SOUTHEAST – VENEZUELA
• DNS Andrea FEDI, SOUTHEAST – VENEZUELA