Third Flanders title for Boonen

Belgium’s Tom Boonen won his third Tour of Flanders today after a lively race which saw several riders injured in crashes, not least Swiss Olympic time-trial champion Fabian Cancellara.

Omega Pharma-Quick Step rider Boonen, part of a three-man breakaway formed when Alessandro Ballan of BMC Racing attacked on the Oude Kwaremont climb around 17 kilometres from the finish.

Ballan was joined by fellow Italian Filippo Pozzato of Farnese Vini-Selle Italia and Boonen.

The Belgian then appeared to struggle on the day’s final climb, an ascent of the Paterberg, but kept in touch with the two Italians before surging past Ballan in the final kilometre.

Boonen crossed first ahead of Pozzato by a bike-length with a tiring Ballan third.

Cancellara had earlier been taken away in an ambulance amid reports he had suffered a broken collarbone in the crash in the feed zone 60km from the finish.