Damien Gaudien (Team Europcar) was a key protagonist in today's Paris-Roubaix. Always on the attack, the young Frenchman was rewarded with a breakthrough 5th place in the race of his dreams.

Team Europcar delivered the biggest surprise in last year's Paris-Roubaix when Sebastien Turgot beat Alessandro Ballan in the sprint for 2nd behind an amazing Tom Boonen. This year the professional continental team did it again as young Damien Gaudin took a very impressive 5th place in the biggest one-day race in the world.

Gaudin put in a very aggressive performance and was always on the attack. He managed to close the gap to the day's early break in solo fashion and when the group was caught, he still had the strength to make the crucial 13-man selection forced by Juan Antonio Flecha (Vacansoleil) on the Mons-en-Pevele sector.

He continued his aggressive racing throughout the final part of the race, and even though he was unable to join the decisive 4-man group inside the final 30km of the race, he was proud to be a protagonist on the biggest scene in the world of cycling.

The result was first and foremost down to his perfect preparation.

"I started this Paris-Roubaix in the best possible shape," he said. "This is the first time in my career that my preparation has been optimal. I am very happy with my performance. In addition, I have not had a problem all day. No puncture, nothing."

Strong teamwork

Last week, the young Frenchman was seen doing an amazing work at the front of the peloton for team captains Turgot and Thomas Voeckler in the Tour of Flanders. Today, he was the one to be assisted by a very strong Europcar team..

"But my performance is most of all due to my teammates who did an exemplary and extraordinary race," he continued. "In the Tour of Flanders, I was in this domestique role to support Thomas Voeckler and Sebastien Turgot and bring them to the final in the best possible condition. Today I was the leader. I showed that my status was justified. But I really want to thank my teammates."

Gaudin has really made a name for himself in the early part of the season. Today's victory comes on the heels of his stunning victory in the Paris-Nice prologue and an impressive win in the Cholet Pays de Loire.

"There is always plenty of desire before the race," he explained. "But the legs decide the results. Today my legs were really on fire and I gave everything. I'm happy with my result. My efforts were rewarded even though I am a little disappointed to miss out on the podium. Since the beginning of the year, I have been strong and this gives me confidence."

Paris-Roubaix is the dream race

Gaudin is mostly a domestique, but he has two specialities. He is a strong time triallist and he is part of the group of strong workers who shine only one race of the year: the Paris-Roubaix. The race suits his strength, power and endurance perfectly, and today is not his first time to impress on the French cobbles.

" Paris-Roubaix is the race of my dreams," he said. "It is an event that I had won as a U23 in 2007. In four appearances since my professional debut, I abandoned once. In recent years, I had a few places in the top 30 (16th in 2011 and 25th in 2012, ed.)"

Actually, the team had both of leaders in the crucial 13-man selection as Turgot was also part of the group. However, last year's runner-up had an unfortunate puncture and fell back to the first chase group.

Gaudin had a moment of hesitation but chose not to wait for his fast co-captain. Instead, he chose to fight for his own chance by trying to anticipate the expected attack from Cancellara.

"I was asking Dom (sports director Dominique Arnould, ed.) where he (Turgot, ed.) was," Gaudin explained. "I did not know where he was. He said: " 30 seconds ", then "1 minute. In Paris-Roubaix, you cannot afford to wait for anybody. At one point, you must make a decision. I am not good at following wheels, so I anticipated. I attacked. I spent some energy because I'm not here to stay in the wheels - even if I had cramps. The problem is that everybody said: " We must anticipate Cancellara " . However, you can count on the fingers of one hand the riders who anticipated. I did. My attack was intended and expected."

A short break

The cobbles season is now over, and Gaudin will now take a short break before he returns to his usual domestique role.

"Now I will stop because the first part of my season is over," he said. "Then comes the second part. I will continue with the Tour of Turkey, the 4 Jours de Dunkerque, the Tour of Luxembourg and the French time trial and road race championships. Then I'll rest. I will take the opportunity to see my family and friends. I will also take stock of the beginning of 2013 with the technical staff of the team."

Sebastien Turgot was only beaten by Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) in the sprint for 9th making it a perfect day for the Europcar team.