Flecha gains Roubaix experience

Post-race pain

Post-race pain (Image credit: Régis Garnier)

"Sore, but content," said Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank) regarding his second place finish in last Sunday's Paris-Roubaix.

"Still my forearms hurt but that is a normal thing after this race. Sunday, when I went to bed, everything hurt; the abdominal zone, the chest, the arms... The muscles that you normally do not use or you use little. When I finally fell asleep I rested very well," he continued to Marca.

He became only the second Spaniard to stand on the second step of the Roubaix podium, the first being Miguel Poblet in 1958.

"I attacked based on my own feelings. I had heard the Boonen was near, the directeur told me 'Boonen is 300 metres' behind, and then I did not receive any more messages. I thought that the directeur was upset with my attack so I went back to the team car for water but then I saw in his eyes that he was ecstatic."

Combined with his third in 2005, Flecha feels that the second place has given him experience for the coming years. "I am getting better. The experience is helpful. O'Grady has just won at the age of 33, not to mention Museeuw," continued the 29 year-old.

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