Fabian Cancellara demonstrated his class to win the Tour of Flanders ahead of the home favourite, Tom Boonen.
The Swiss added the Ronde van Vlaanderen to his long list of honours, which include three Tour de France prologue wins and victory in Paris-Roubaix and Milan-San Remo, with a superb solo success in the 258-kilometre cobbled classic.
Boonen (Quick Step) clung on to second place, while his compatriot Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma Lotto) took third ahead of another Belgian Bjorn Leukemans (Vacansoleil).
Cancellara overcame a bike change in the final 50km and attacked on the Molenberg with 44km to go. Boonen was on his wheel and the duo forged forward together before Cancellara again kicked ahead on the Kapelmuur climb with 15km remaining.
The world and Olympic time-trial champion, of the Saxo Bank team, opened up a gap on Boonen and was able to secure a clear win.