Road Bike Racing - Ale-jet vs Boonen

Does anyone think Tom Boonen can beat Alessandro Petacchi in a straight up sprint? It is very early but Tom B seems fast already as he has beaten Zabel pretty easily in the Gutter race.

Can he? yes. I still like Ale-Jet but I think he needs more leadout than Tom.

Given the same leadout, Peta likely will have a slightly faster top speed. Put them side by side for 2K though and Boonen should have the advantage.

I've heard it said that Petacchi, while having a very high top end, is the type of rider who needs an armchair ride to the finish.

I've heard it said that Petacchi, while having a very high top end, is the type of rider who needs an armchair ride to the finish.

Not sure if he needs a complete armchair ride to the finish - Milan San Remo he got leaner and stronger for - but in general I agree. Boonen can put out power all day long but pure top end, Peta has him beat. It's all a question of how much was left out on the road before the final 250 meters. If Peta is fresh and in a good position, nobody will beat him.

except Mcewen. Mcewen came over the top of him in stage 8 or 9 in the Giro. Beautiful sprint. Zabel and Ogrady hiding in the sipstream came home quickly.

Can't exactly call Petacchi's wins bunch sprints when he starts one length in front of first and a few lengths in front of everyone else. Rodriguez jumped him and got him in the 2004 Giro. Very impressive by fast Freddy.

Petacchi did win some of his 2003 Tour wins in conventional bunch kicks without the leadout.

I don't know, but I do want to see more of this matchup this season!

I agree with Laggard. Petacchi won MSR last year in pretty convincing fashion from a long way out. Beat a hopped up Hondo, Hushovd, and Zabel to name a few.

But Boonen's fast becoming the man. Still, if I had to bet on one guy to win a bunch sprint, I'd put my money on McEwen. Doesn't need a leadout and has an edge tactically.

Anybody know how many seconds or thirds Zabel has in the last few years? he always seems to be right there but just short to Petacchi, Boonen, or McEwen.

My money's on the Belgian. GO TOM BOONEN!

Super important to note: Quick.Step-Innergetic are now the proud managers of two riders from Petacchi's old leadout train. Guido Trenti (who, I think, also rode for Cipo) and Matteo Tosatto. That's huge. HUGE.

Bonus caption this photo:

http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/1295/boonen1xm.th.jpg (http://img52.imageshack.us/my.php?image=boonen1xm.jpg)

"So, we have this show. It's me, my wife, my two kids, and our little dog..."

or:

"Back in bowl."

Either way.

The bigger question is, who is the better road racer? I personally would give that to Boonen, who has shown us that he can win classics in solo fashion (Ronde van Vlaerden '05) and by besting a small breakaway group at the finish line (Paris-Roubaix, same year, eight days later!). While Petacchi's win at MSM '05 was impressive, it was a field sprint with the Fassa Bortolo train setting it all up at the finish, not too different from any Petacchi win at the Giro, Tour, or Vuelta. In addition, Boonen, as is mentioned and is obvious now, isn't as dependent an his or any team for a leadout as is Petacchi. This was seen at the World Championships, where each rider's teams were swapped out for national squads, and Boonen in the end got the job done versus Petacchi who was lost somewhere back in the field.

I could get into the argument of who is a purely better sprinter, but it's too complex. Each rider has his own style, Petacchi it seems can take a sprint from a long way out, while Boonen can do his sprints more in a Robbie Mcgewan style, showing his face and front wheel at the line in the last second for the win.

Do I hear a match sprint on the track between these two happeneing eventually?