[attach id=246176 size="medium"]Fabian Cancellara[/attach]

Swiss Fabian Cancellara kept his composure to win a third Paris-Roubaix title, outdoing Belgian Sep Vanmarcke in a session of track cycling tactics at the end of a 254-km ride yesterday.

Cancellara, who won the Queen of the Classics in 2006 and 2010, entered the Roubaix outdoor velodrome, where the finish line was drawn, for 1-1/2 laps against a rival who is supposed to be the better sprinter.

Yet the RadioShack-Leopard rider, who achieved his second Tour of Flanders/Paris-Roubaix double, forced his opponent to a standstill on the velodrome as both men played mind games for position.

Vanmarcke was tricked into starting the sprint and the Blanco rider was leapfrogged on the home straight.

“There was nothing called instinct at the end, it was just a fight,” Cancellara, who started the day as the overwhelming favourite in the absence of holder and fierce rival Tom Boonen of Belgium, told a news conference.

“I went to a level sometimes you don’t know how you can do it.

“I went beyond my limits. I’m happy but I was probably more happy that the race was finished.

“Then I had a minute to lie down on the grass, back to planet earth. I damaged myself probably more than ever.”

“I know I’m supposed to be happy with second but right now I’m very frustrated,” said Vanmarcke.

Dutchman Niki Terpstra won a four-man sprint for third position after the OmegaPharma-Quick Step team – who were supposed to ride for Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel – and Thord Hushovd’s BMC outfit failed to mount a proper challenge around their designated leaders.