Boonen wins third Paris-Roubaix

By Clement Guillou

ROUBAIX, France (Reuters) - A superb show of strength helped Tom Boonen complete a hat-trick of wins at the Paris-Roubaix cycling classic on Sunday.

The 28-year-old Belgian, who won in 2005 and last year, became the eighth rider to achieve the feat in the 107 editions of the Queen of the Classics after eclipsing his rivals in the 259-km race featuring 52.9 km of punishing cobbled sectors.

In the finale, his challengers crashed, suffered punctures or lost ground as they tried to keep up with the former world champion.

Before Boonen, other Belgian cycling greats such as Eddy Merckx, Rik van Looy, Roger de Vlaeminck and Johan Museeuw had also bagged three victories on Paris-Roubaix.

Italy's Filippo Pozzato was second 47 seconds behind with Norway's Thor Hushovd coming home third 30 seconds further back.

"With all the crashes today, it was very hard, it took time for the last break to take shape," Quick Step rider Boonen told reporters.

"After Arenberg, I had a puncture and took another bike, I did not feel too well at that stage but in the finale, the others looked even worse while I kept the momentum.

"The last hour was very hard with the crashes and the fight with Pozzato. It was a battle between great riders."