De Pete was quoted after the race as saying he didn't want to drag Zabel up to Boonen - why drag a world class pack sprinter up to the front, especially when he has a teammate in the break?
Classic case of the perfect opportunist attack - counter the strongest rider in the group, and leave him stuck with a sprinter.
Zabel was the man today - he made the break happen with a couple of back to back attacks to split the group, and to counter himself for the escape. Super, super cool - he has apparently come to the conclusion that he no longer has the explosive speed to be a pack sprinter, and is working to become a classics-style specialist, in the same way that Museeuw and Jalabert and even Kelly reinvented themselves.
He will be one to watch in the classics for the next couple of years...
Of course, Boonen is simply amazing...
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