Despite clearly being overcome with emotion after finishing second in his final Tour of Flanders and having a fantastic season with four wins already, Fabian Cancellara has said he still plans to retire and nothing will change his mind.

“There’s not a single part of me that doesn’t want to retire at the end of the season,” Cancellara said at a press conference. “It’s time to go. I think it’s good that I’m retiring when I want to, not because of health, not because of bad health, not because of not being able to find a new contract. I’m glad it’s this way as it allows me to say proper goodbyes, like I did at Flanders, and like I will at Roubaix next Sunday.”

Roubaix will be even harder to say goodbye to and he says he isn’t focussing on what is to come after the Classics, just on giving one last show of strength on the pavé of Northern France.

“I have great memories of Roubaix, and I’m sad that this will be my last one, so I will be ready to fight more than ever and will never give up. It will be a battle to the finish line,” the three-time winner said.