I'm digging that Zabel won Paris-Tours. I can't think of anyone I'd rather have win this past weekend. The man, as always, class act all the way. Looking forward to seeing him race with Ale-Jet next year as well. It could be interesting. No, it will be interesting.

Devolder screwed over by his own DS. He should have just kept going, traded pulls with the other guy, and fought it out between the 2 of them for the win. That would have been sweet. Hell, take 2nd in a big race anyday of the weekend, instead, they were both pack fodder. He should leave and race for a team that seems to understand the big one day races.

It's been a real privilege to witness Zabel's extraordinary career - looking forward to him helping Petacchi (or maybe O'Grady at long last?) become a Green Jersey winner...the peloton will really miss one of the greats when he retires.

I'm digging that Zabel won Paris-Tours. I can't think of anyone I'd rather have win this past weekend. The man, as always, class act all the way. Looking forward to seeing him race with Ale-Jet next year as well. It could be interesting. No, it will be interesting.

Devolder screwed over by his own DS. He should have just kept going, traded pulls with the other guy, and fought it out between the 2 of them for the win. That would have been sweet. Hell, take 2nd in a big race anyday of the weekend, instead, they were both pack fodder. He should leave and race for a team that seems to understand the big one day races.

Tactics are tough, and sometimes there is no correct move. In hindsight, he should've pulled through. But what would we be saying if he did what Kessler did last year? He pulled through, gave Erik Dekker the win, and ended up in 7th himself. I do think the correct move would've been to work together more, as they seemed to be having various problems in the final few ks, but one last pull might not have helped his chances.

As for Zabel, good to see him win. I've seen the merits of various sprinters, and his ability to be the best at the end of a tough race makes him my personal favorite.

Silas

I agree about Zabel. Glad he finally took one this season.

I don't know about Devolder. The live report certainly made it seem like he cracked and couldn't pull anymore. Plus, 2K to go with 20 seconds advantage is not the place to be discussing anything. Either Devolder pulls through or he doesn't. Given that, Gilbert either attacks, pulls Devloder to the finish, or sits up. I just don't see screwing around like that so close to the line with such a short advantage. I'd feel a lot sorrier for Gilbert had he attacked.

Plus, taking second in Paris-Tours? Who cares? They were racing for a win, not a podium spot. Devolder knows he's the weaker sprinter, and he's half cracked, so he's got to figure some way to have Gilbert lead it out. Now, trying to sit on for more than a kilometer to go with the field charging? Probably not the best idea, admittedly, although Devolder said he didn't know they were so close (he had to have a good idea though). But immediately pointing the finger at the DS immediately after as if he could have won it otherwise? Kinda lame.

Devolder wasn't cracked - I say this because I actually watched the race - it was just a rubbish tactic. But then Demol has all the tactical acuity of a rock - how many times has he managed to f*** up P-R now?

In a 2 man break on the Ave Grammont - a long, straight stretch of road where the peloton have you in their sights for about the last 2kms - with maybe 22 secs over the peloton, then you do your turn. Gilbert had attacked on one of the last little cotes but Devolder got back to him - in that position, with the attack not proving decisive, you take your chances of getting to the line together and may the best man win. Devolder has been pretty strong all season without a lot of support - he should take Boonen's lead and get out while he can capitalise - otherwise he'll waste his career being cannon fodder for Hincapie.

Taking 2nd in Paris-Tours is so much less memorable than finishing, what - 13th?

Devolder wasn't cracked - I say this because I actually watched the race - it was just a rubbish tactic. But then Demol has all the tactical acuity of a rock - how many times has he managed to f*** up P-R now?

In a 2 man break on the Ave Grammont - a long, straight stretch of road where the peloton have you in their sights for about the last 2kms - with maybe 22 secs over the peloton, then you do your turn. Gilbert had attacked on one of the last little cotes but Devolder got back to him - in that position, with the attack not proving decisive, you take your chances of getting to the line together and may the best man win. Devolder has been pretty strong all season without a lot of support - he should take Boonen's lead and get out while he can capitalise - otherwise he'll waste his career being cannon fodder for Hincapie.

Taking 2nd in Paris-Tours is so much less memorable than finishing, what - 13th?

Presumably, the cyclingnews commentators actually watched the race as well...

Anyway, I'll concede that he wasn't cracked. Fine, but he still probably can't beat Gilbert in a fair sprint. No one wants to say "may the best man win" when the best man is the other guy.

I don't see why Gilbert isn't getting criticized as well - he didn't drag Devolder to the line either. That's the way these kind of scenarios work - you play chicken and hope the field doesn't catch you. They screwed up and got caught.

As far as a second place goes: I think most riders and their teams are willing to trade a whole lot of seconds for a first. They obviously are, or one of these guys would have pulled to the finish. Ialso think it's lame that, after the fact, Devolder blames it on Demol. It's Demol's fault he started screwing around 5K from the line? Bottom line - these two guys know each other, don't like each other, and were both unwilling to risk giving the other guy an advantage in the sprint. So they got caught.

Still, I'm not saying Devolder should sit around on Discovery any longer. He's looked good all the way from K-B-K to Worlds, and I certainly am not sold on Discovery as a Classics team.

IMHO it was Clear from watching the live boradcast that Devolder wasn't cracked he just decided not to pull through and take his chances... That's what you get when you start to "get cute and play games" at the end as Paul Sherwin says :)

I was glad that Zabel won though. Very cool. Hinault actually looked happy to have a rider he actually liked on the podium for a change...

Nik

'But then Demol has all the tactical acuity of a rock - how many times has he managed to f*** up P-R now?'

Please elaborate. How could have he played a tactically stronger race that would have lead to a Postal/Disco rider winning? I curious to see the tactical genious that Disco should be employing share some tactical wealth.

(Nothing personal. As a former professional coach I get abrasive at armchair QB's/experts)

Devolder wasn't cracked - I say this because I actually watched the race - it was just a rubbish tactic. But then Demol has all the tactical acuity of a rock - how many times has he managed to f*** up P-R now?

In a 2 man break on the Ave Grammont - a long, straight stretch of road where the peloton have you in their sights for about the last 2kms - with maybe 22 secs over the peloton, then you do your turn. Gilbert had attacked on one of the last little cotes but Devolder got back to him - in that position, with the attack not proving decisive, you take your chances of getting to the line together and may the best man win. Devolder has been pretty strong all season without a lot of support - he should take Boonen's lead and get out while he can capitalise - otherwise he'll waste his career being cannon fodder for Hincapie.

Taking 2nd in Paris-Tours is so much less memorable than finishing, what - 13th?