Boonen wins 4 stages in Qatar, against Pettachi. That's pretty impressive for an early season start I've got to say. He is the man, still. And could be the top sprinter in the world this year if Alesandro doesn't pick up his pace here shortly. But with that being said, it is only February. Plenty of time to get into it for Ale-Jet, but Boonen, and Quick Step in general, dominant in Qatar this year, well, again. Good early season racing already.

Boonen is the man. I love his style as well as Robbie. Pettechi is too much like Cipo. it needs to be a perfect set-up for him to win. Boonen and Robbie really do not need help at the end.

Boonen is the man. I love his style as well as Robbie. Pettechi is too much like Cipo. it needs to be a perfect set-up for him to win. Boonen and Robbie really do not need help at the end.

Ale-Jet has evolved over the last few years actually. He has won without the proper good set up lead out action. He can do it, but he's coming off not racing much since his self inflicted injury.

I hope Petacchi doenst do a Beloki and never get his form or head back...
He said he was feeling good but in the first big sprint was right on Boonen's wheel and simply couldnt come around. Thats gotta hurt when you are THE FASTEST dude alive.

But as Big Tom said graciously, Peta hasnt raced in like what 8 months and he'll be back bigtime. It will be nice to have some good rivalries in the sport to replace the Lance-Jan thing. What we need now is some smack talk and some hargy bargy and both Boonen and Petacchi flicking McEwen and I'll be happy.

Check out Graham Watson's website and all the pics of crashes, invariably some local Qatar of middle east rider bringing down the Protour studs. Show what a huge step up it is riding in that pack.

http://grahamwatson.com/gw/imagedocs.nsf/updateframesetcall?openform&07qatarSt5

Boonen is the man. I love his style as well as Robbie. Pettechi is too much like Cipo. it needs to be a perfect set-up for him to win. Boonen and Robbie really do not need help at the end.

Boonen and Robbie need a wheel to sit on as well, it just that they are able to find other wheels than their own team (particularly Robbie).

agreed.

it's amazing how Robbie seems to materialize at the front right at the end with little or no team assistance.

agreed.

it's amazing how Robbie seems to materialize at the front right at the end with little or no team assistance.

It is pretty amazing to see. For cycling standards, he seems more like a climber type. How tall is Robbie, maybe 5'7 or 5'8. He has a punch-it jump that when he throws it down he is gone. Compared to guys like Booned and Thor, Robbie is tiny. However, it helps him sneakl through the pack, not too mention gys heardly ever get the wheel of the little jumpy guy. They are usually looking for the big deisel guy who will pull them to the front.


I do think we may be surprised by JJ Haedo at CSC this year. He showed in Tour of Cali and Georgia that he can go head to head with the big boys and I watched him for many years at some of the East Coast NRCs stuff and he has that Robbie style. He has a good track backround as well which will help. I think we may see a lot out of him in the future.

Robbie, watch out.