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Yep Boonen is definitely looking like a real class act. Glad he got away from the Posties and into what is a better environment for him to blossom. Bill c
Yes, Boonen is a class act and we might, hopefully, have a replacement for the Cippos, Abdujaparov
But the overall strategy, having regard to the fact that MSR is the Queen of the Italian classics, was not to have Boonen win, but to put an Italian rider over the line first which Quickstep did with a young 24 year old 7th year pro who had, with the exception of a short spell at Fassa after the Quickstep-Mapei demise, been a Quickstep rider all of his pro career.
Even Cippo was ecstatic, and Petacchi too - do not mistake those pix of the finish where Petacchi appeared to be about to raise his hands in a victory salute as a big faux pas on Petacchi's part. He was actually clapping too
Yes, Boonen is a class act and we might, hopefully, have a replacement for the Cippos, Abdujaparov
But the overall strategy, having regard to the fact that MSR is the Queen of the Italian classics, was not to have Boonen win, but to put an Italian rider over the line first which Quickstep did with a young 24 year old 7th year pro who had, with the exception of a short spell at Fassa after the Quickstep-Mapei demise, been a Quickstep rider all of his pro career.
Even Cippo was ecstatic, and Petacchi too - do not mistake those pix of the finish where Petacchi appeared to be about to raise his hands in a victory salute as a big faux pas on Petacchi's part. He was actually clapping too
And that is where not just Le Tour is a circus but pro cycling in general. May not the best man win but the most appropriate for the market and the sport. Why bother racing?
.... actually one could argue The Tour is less of a circus since it does appear the best man actually wins not the most appropriate.