Switzerland's Olympic time-trial champion cycling Fabian Cancellara has won the Paris-Roubaix classic for the second time in his career. The gruelling 259 kilometre cycle race is known colloquially as the 'Hell of the North' because 27 sections are run over cobblestones. It was Cancellara's second one-day classic victory in a week, making him just the 10th rider to achieve a classics double.

About 50 kilometres before the end of the race, Cancellara made his move and edged away from the pack. His pursuers couldn't catch the powerful Swiss rider and he took the Queen of Classics some two minutes ahead of his closest rivals.