John Degenkolb revealed Sunday's Paris-Roubaix was the first time in five attempts he had experienced no "trouble" on the cobblestones, which set him up to claim line honours.
The Giant-Alpecin cyclist out-sprinted Zdenek Stybar (Etixx Quick-Step) and Greg van Avermaet (BMC) to win Paris-Roubaix, after a group of six entered the velodrome together for the finale of 'the Queen of the Classics'.
Degenkolb finished second in 2014 after Niki Terpstra (Etixx Quick-Step) burst away late to lift the cobblestone trophy, with a broken chain hindering the German's performance.
But Degenkolb, who won Milan-San Remo in March, explained he had a charmed run on Sunday.
"Winning Roubaix is very hard. Everything needs to come together," he said.
"There was not really a moment of trouble. Today I was my first Roubaix when I did not have trouble. In the past I either crashed or had a puncture. Last year my chain broke.
"Everything needs to be perfect on the bike."
After claiming his second of cycling's five 'Monuments' - the most prestigious one-day classics - this year, Degenkolb insisted Paris-Roubaix was more important than Milan-San Remo.
"San Remo was already emotional but this is topping everything," the 26-year-old said.
"This is the race I always dreamt of winning. I had to work very hard for it. My team worked the whole day to hold the situation under control until I could start.
"We knew it was going to be hard and that a big group would make it to the finish. I really did not want to find myself in the same situation as last year.
"I was in a situation where I had to go, I had to invent something. I was not afraid to fail and that was the key."