Fabian Cancellara on his supposed mechanical doping at 2010 Tour of Flanders: "The results have shown who I am and who I was as a rider"

One of the most decorated Classics riders Fabian Cancellara may have retired quite a few years ago, but he still finds thrill in professional cycling in his managment role at Swiss formation Tudor Pro Cycling. And so it happens that he'll be back at the scene of some of his biggest triumphs this Sunday - Tour of Flanders.

Cancellara hung up his bike after Olympic timetrial title in Rio 2016 back when he was still at the top of his game. That same year he won Strade Bianche and finished 2nd at Flanders - the race that became so close to him. Did he not miss the thrill of racing? "I closed that chapter with my gold medal at the Olympic Games in Rio. It was the right moment and it felt right," he tells Vive le Vélo ahead Tour of Flanders.

Back in 2010 Cancellara finally made the ends meet at Tour of Flanders, taking first of his three victories at the Flemish Monument. At the time there were speculations of mechanical doping by the Swissman, especially from hurt Belgian fans who would've preferred to see home-crowd favorite Tom Boonen triumph instead. Those rumours clearly don't give Cancellara wrinkles anymore.

"Am I not tired of those rumours? I mainly feel bad for all those people who make up such stories. Today I can laugh about it. I don't have to stoop so low. I don't have to prove anything anymore. The results have shown who I am and who I was as a rider. Ciao, meow!", he laughs.

The Swiss's record is certainly impressive. If he could trade all his victories for one that's missing in his palmares, which would it be? "That's a luxury problem," says Cancellara, referring to a gap in his list of achievements. "It's almost impossible to say which victory I would give away in exchange for the world title. Or for a 4th victory in Flanders or Roubaix. No, I'm satisfied."

What makes the Tour of Flanders so unique for him? "It starts with the country, the region, the people. You have the cobblestones, the chip shops, the beer, ... The Tour is a race that has so many things at the same time. Especially now that the start is not in Antwerp, but in Bruges. It is like being in a stadium. You see the teams going from the buses to the Grote Markt. Those are intense feelings of pride and happiness."