Francisco Ventoso won the 90th edition of Paris-Brussels ahead of Romain Feillu and Stefan van Dijk. Ventoso emerged victorious after a last helling (climb) just five kilometers from the finish had softened up the sprint. Paul Martens came in fourth in his first big race since June.
The field was already strung out at the slightly uphill finish line. Feillu made a brave and surprising move, but Ventoso kept his cool. "Romain attacked early, too early," he told Sporza. Feillu had first accelerated to the two riders who were still ahead, then passed them on the right hand side and gave it full gas with three hundred meters to go.
Ventoso was several bike lengths back, but managed a comeback. "I went passed him in the last one hundred meters, but it was not easy." Ventoso had passed Feillu on the left, but went back over into the middle just in time for a centered victory shot.
Despite winning decisively, Ventoso said it was win he had to really fight for. "It was not an easy victory. It was a hard day for me, because it was a nervous race all the time."
The race started out with the break of Eric Berthou, Sebastien Delfosse and Alessandro De Marchi. The trio's largest advantage was around ten minutes, but with 20 kilometers to go it was all over for them.
Björn Leukemans did a last attempt with less than ten kilometers to go. "I can't wait for the sprint, I have to always try to break away," he said after the race. He is also on good form, having won the Druivenkoers - Overijse in late August and finishing fourth in the GP Jef Scherens. But today, he was well caught before the line. "It was going to be difficult to ride nine kilometers alone." Especially when there was another climb up the Stationsstraat so close to the finish.
Results - 218.5 km
1. Francisco Ventoso (CarmioOro-NGC)
2. Romain Feillu (Vacansoleil)
3. Stefan van Dijk (Verandas Willems)
4. Paul Martens (Rabobank)
5. Jens Keukeleire (Cofidis)