O'Grady hands Australia a first Paris-Roubaix crown

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2007

ROUBAIX, France (AFP) — Australian Stuart O'Grady claimed the biggest win of his European racing career with a stunning victory in the mythical Paris-Roubaix one-day classic here on Sunday.

The 33-year-old CSC cyclist from Adelaide became the first ever Australian to win the race known as the 'Hell of the North', crossing the finish line in the Roubaix velodrome in just over six hours but nearly a minute ahead of Juan Antonio Flecha of Spain and former winner Steffen Wesemann of Switzerland.

Belgian ace Tom Boonen finished in sixth place at 55secs after a series of impressive but ultimately futile accelerations in a late bid to close a gap of nearly a minute on a small group of leaders in the final 30 km of the race.

"Everyone wanted to ride with me but...