Velochimp: Astrochimp on Cycling

Paris Tours is usually a sprinter’s classic, with a mostly flat parcours that leads to a large bunch sprint in the end. There have been a few riders who foiled the sprinter’s plans in the end. Take REEEChard Virenque who is a climber (he won the TDF Polka Dot jersey seven times) beat out the sprinters in a day long break that was not reeled in in time. Erik Dekker managed to hold off the sprinting bunch last year. The final pics make it look like he won a field sprint, but that was not the case. The odds on favorite to win is Erik Zabel, since AleJet Petacchi and Tom Boonen have called it a season. Boonen is happy and on the mend from some minor stomach surgery. Petacchi is wallowing in the depression of losing the World Championships road race, which was pretty much set for him to take the win. That is why they race the race I guess.

Zabel is a favorite as he might have new life since he is bidding the Magenta Men goodbye and saying hello to Milram! The Magentas never really helped Zabel much during his tenure, so most times Zabel was trying to work off of Cipollini’s or Petacchi’s leadout trains to take a win. Most times he was successful too.

Robbie McEwen might be another one to look out for, since the McEwen corner was smoothed out in the WC road race. He might be one that felt a little bit spurned, and may seek to try and get a final win. Plus, contract negoatiations with Davitamon have not been as smooth as McEwen would have liked so he may have some extra end-of-season motivation to show up the Davitamon managment.
Seriously this guy wins sprints all year long, he is well worth the price…

Paolo Bettini showed last week in Zurich that he is on form and can almost win at will.
He had a very impressive win by over three minutes which was helped a bit by the miserable
weather conditions. He may find similar conditions on Sunday and may try a REEchard move to take the win.

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