I was never a big fan of sprinters in long races - they suck wheels all the way, expecting their team to deliver them to a bunch sprint at the end for a big "its all about me" finish. But then again, I've never had much of a sprint myself...

The more I watch racing, the more I don't mind it. The "Sprinter" is a variety of athlete - you either are or you aren't - and a bunch sprint is about as exciting as it gets. So the grand tours are arranged to have plenty of early sprints (good for the audience, good for sponsors), before the advantage goes to the climbers and time trial specialists or all-arounders. Zabel is one guy I really like - a sprinter who's usually still there for the TdF for the last sprint after struggling through the mountains and time-trials to make the cut-offs. We'll see if Cavendish sticks it out through the Tour like that.