Stijn Devolder (Vacansoleil-DCM) and Filippo Pozzato (Farnese Vini-Selle Italia) crash out of contention at Paris-Roubaix. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Filippo Pozzato (Farnese Vini-Selle Italia) is assisted back on his bike after crashing. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
To the victor goes the spoils - Tom Boonen adds a fourth cobblestone trophy to his collection. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) rode alone for the final 52km to prevail at Paris-Roubaix. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Lars Boom (Rabobank) in the Roubaix velodrome infield. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Niki Terpstra was not able to keep pace with teammate Tom Boonen, who would ride the final 52km alone for victory at Paris-Roubaix. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Defending champion Johan Vansummeren finished in 9th place. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Alessandro Ballan (BMC) and Sébastien Turgot (Europcar) sprinted for second place, claimed by the Frenchman in a photo finish. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
The race-winning attack - Tom Boonen leads teammate Niki Terpstra on the cobbles. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
The fourteen-man chase group behind solo leader Tom Boonen. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Ouch! Paris-Roubaix contender Filippo Pozzato crashes on a corner. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
French legend Bernard Hinault congratulates Tom Boonen on the Paris-Roubaix podium. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
A smiling Tom Boonen rolls across the Paris-Roubaix finish line as race winner for the fourth time. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Paris-Roubaix top three look out onto the crowd. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Tom Boonen joins compatriot Roger De Vlaeminck as the only four-time Paris-Roubaix champions. (Image credit: Photopress.be)
Defending Paris-Roubaix champion Johan Vansummeren (Garmin-Barracuda) in the Roubaix velodrome en route to a 9th place finish (Image credit: Photopress.be)
Tom Boonen makes his way around the Roubaix velodrome. (Image credit: Photopress.be)
Tom Boonen all alone in the race lead at Paris-Roubaix. (Image credit: Photopress.be)
Only a millimetre separated second-place finisher Sébastien Turgot, right, from third-placed Alessandro Ballan. (Image credit: Photopress.be)
Riders roll along through the countryside of northern France during the 2012 edition of Paris-Roubaix. (Image credit: Photopress.be)
Four-time Paris-Roubaix champion Tom Boonen lets it all sink in the podium. (Image credit: Photopress.be)
Action in the feared Arenberg forest sector of cobbles. (Image credit: Photopress.be)
The peloton makes its way through northern France to the Roubaix velodrome on dry roads. (Image credit: Photopress.be)
Tom Boonen rode away from the field to win the 2012 edition of Paris-Roubaix in 50+km solo break. (Image credit: Photopress.be)
2012 Paris-Roubaix champion Tom Boonen soaks in the adulation at the Roubaix velodrome. (Image credit: Photopress.be)
2010 Paris-Roubaix podium (l-r): Alessandro Ballan, Tom Boonen and Sébastien Turgot (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Tom Boonen is urged on by spectators during his winning attack at Paris-Roubaix. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Tom Boonen has won Paris-Roubaix for the fourth time. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
2012 Paris-Roubaix champion Tom Boonen all alone at the finish line. (Image credit: Photopress.be)
Do you think Tommeke's happy about his fourth Paris-Roubaix title? (Image credit: Photopress.be)
2012 Paris-Roubaix champion Tom Boonen is swarmed on the infield of the Roubaix velodrome. (Image credit: Photopress.be)
Omega Pharma-QuickStep had plenty of firepower in support of Boonen on the Roubaix cobbles. (Image credit: Photopress.be)
Paris-Roubaix champion Tom Boonen and third-place finisher Alessandro Ballan on the podium. (Image credit: Photopress.be)
The chase group sprints in for second place on the Roubaix velodrome. (Image credit: Photopress.be)
Spectators try to catch a glimpse of their favourite riders during the 2012 edition of Paris-Roubaix. (Image credit: Photopress.be)
The spectators can get really close to the action at Paris-Roubaix (Image credit: Sirotti)
Alessandro Ballan (BMC) and Lars Boom (Rabobank) (Image credit: Sirotti)
Luca Paolini (Katusha) is forced wide in pursuit of Niki Terpstra (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) (Image credit: Sirotti)
Juan Antonio Flecha (Team Sky) (Image credit: Sirotti)
Juan Antonio Flecha (Team Sky) on the cobbles at Paris-Roubaix 2012 (Image credit: Sirotti)
Alessandro Ballan (BMC) at Paris-Roubaix 2012 (Image credit: Sirotti)
The generous crowds were thrilled by Boonen's performance (Image credit: Sirotti)
Boonen driving towards victory (Image credit: Sirotti)
Boonen rides round the velodrome at the finish of Paris-Roubaix 2012 (Image credit: Sirotti)
The cobbles held no fears for Tom Boonen at Paris-Roubaix 2012 (Image credit: Sirotti)
Boonen's move 50km out broke his rivals (Image credit: Sirotti)
Boonen's record-equalling fourth win at Paris-Roubaix was his most comfortable (Image credit: Sirotti)
The moment of glory for Tom Boonen (Image credit: Sirotti)
Boonen walks to greet the press after his victory (Image credit: Sirotti)
The battle for second place concludes at the velodrome (Image credit: Sirotti)
Boonen looking fresh on the podium despite his Herculean efforts (Image credit: Sirotti)
Boonen's run of form this spring has been unprecedented (Image credit: Sirotti)
Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) on the podium (Image credit: Sirotti)
Sebastien Turgot (Team Europcar) finished second (Image credit: Sirotti)
Ballan has had a decent Classics campaign (Image credit: Sirotti)
Alessandro Ballan (BMC) finished in third place (Image credit: Sirotti)
The three podium finishers take the applause (Image credit: Sirotti)
Boonen in splendid isolation on his way to victory at Paris-Roubaix 2012 (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Juan Antonio Flecha (Team Sky), Lars Boom (Rabobank) and Alessandro Ballan (BMC) (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Tom Boonen has arrived solo in the Roubaix velodrome and has plenty of time to enjoy his victory. (Image credit: AFP)
Turgot (Team Europcar) was delighted with his podium finish at Paris-Roubaix (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Matteo Tosatto (Saxo Bank) would take the sprint for 7th place from this chase group. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Smiles on the podium for Ballan, Boonen and Turgot (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Boonen's performance at Paris-Roubaix 2012 will be talked about for years to come (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
To the victor goes the spoils (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) holds the Paris-Robaix trophy aloft for a record-equalling fourth time (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Boonen makes his decisive move with 50km to go at Paris-Roubaix (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) celebrates his fourth victory in Paris-Roubaix. (Image credit: AFP)
The peloton in full flight through the Arenberg forest pave sector. (Image credit: AFP)
Tom Boonen has equalled the record of Roger De Vlaeminck with his fourth Paris-Roubaix victory today. (Image credit: AFP)
Tom Boonen lets everyone know he's just won Paris-Roubaix for the fourth time, tying the record set by Roger De Vlaeminck. (Image credit: AFP)
Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) is all alone in the lead in the Roubaix velodrome. (Image credit: AFP)
Sébastien Turgot (Europcar), left, outsprinted Alessandro Ballan (BMC) for second place. (Image credit: AFP)
In a photo finish, Sébastien Turgot (Europcar) pipped Alessandro Ballan (BMC) for second place. (Image credit: AFP)
Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) received plenty of encouragement while on his solo ride to victory. (Image credit: AFP)
Tom Boonen with his fourth Paris-Roubaix trophy. (Image credit: AFP)
Tom Boonen still has plenty of strength left to hoist the cobblestone trophy aloft on the podium. (Image credit: AFP)
Boonen had the luxury of being able to savour victory from a long way out at Paris-Roubaix (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Tom Boonen turned Paris-Roubaix 2012 into a procession (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Four of the best: Boonen celebrates (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
The chasing pack couldn't get near the winner (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) rode into the record books with a dominant solo victory at Paris-Roubaix. The 31-year-old Belgian rode the final 52km alone to win by 1:39 over a five-man chase group led across the finish line in the Roubaix velodrome by Sébastien Turgot (Europcar). Alessandro Ballan (BMC) rounded out the podium for third place in a photo-finish with the Frenchman.
With the victory Boonen equals Roger De Vlaeminck's all-time win record of four victories in the Hell of the North, and for the second time in Boonen's career he's claimed the Tour of Flanders/Paris-Roubaix double in the same season.
"I was not really thinking about the winning race or doing a record," Boonen said. "I was just fighting myself. I was taking it step by step, cobblestone by cobblestone, kilometer by kilometer. I think if you start thinking about the 60 or 57 km, which is when I left, it's nearly impossible. It is all in your mind. I was really thinking about my lead. With the gap at 30 seconds I was trying to take it second by second. I was trying not to push it right away to one minute, tried not to force myself. It was the best way to save my strength and put all my strength into the 50km in front of me. I think it was the best option.
"The velodrome finish line, it's the only one where you can do two laps where all the people are," continued Boonen. "It's the only finish line where you have one kilometre where you can bond with the people that are there. It's just just such a special race. Paris-Roubaix, only one race like it in the world. A race like this needs a special finish. I think changing this finish line would be very stupid. It's almost more Paris-Roubaix — finishing here — than the cobblestones. I was really enjoying my two laps."
Runner-up Turgot was delighted with the result as he realised that Boonen was out of reach on Easter Sunday. "I don't realise yet how huge the performance is that I achieved," Turgot said. "I did some track and that certainly helped me in the sprint. Boonen was too strong. It was almost a miracle what he did, it was super nice," Turgot said.
