Video: Cancellara reveals all about his Tour of Flanders win

Team Saxo Bank’s Fabian Cancellara has been talking about his stunning attack on the Muur in last Sunday’s Tour of Flanders which left Quick Step rider Tom Boonen for dead and enabled the World and Olympic Time Trial Champion to use his unparalleled skills in that discipline to power his way to victory in the closing 15 kilometres.

In a three-part video on the I Am Specialized website – perhaps in his case, I Am Spartacus would be more appropriate – Cancellara reveals that riding up the Muur in the saddle, while other riders were forced to stand up on the pedals, was less a result of the ease with which he tackled the climb, and more because of the tightness he felt in his leg muscles when he himself tried to get out of the saddle.

He also said that his attack was more due to instinct as a result of the way the race was panning out, rather than as part of any pre-race plan, although it’s clear that his pre-race recce had reaped dividends, as highlighted by knowing which line to take on the Muur to find the more forgiving cobbles. And it seems that having a two-way radio link that allowed him to know the exact moment Boonen looked vulnerable didn’t hurt, either.

The Swiss rider also revealed that he rode the race with a lucky angel charm in his pocket that had been given to him by his wife and daughter, and which was dedicated to last Sunday’s date, 4 April. And the rest of the peloton had better beware – he has another one carrying next Sunday’s date, 11 April, when he’ll be looking to win Paris-Roubaix for the second time.

Parts II and III of the video follow below.