October 9, 2005 – Erik Zabel, in his last race in T-Mobile colours, has taken the 250km race, Paris-Tours. With summer weather of 25 degrees, the race was full of attacks and breaks – including an ill-fated move that came heartbreakingly close to winning. Stijn Devolder (Discovery) and Philippe Gilbert (FdJ) went clear with 30km remaining and with a 20 second gap with 3km to go, looked like they had spoiled the sprinters’ teams. But the pair played it cool – too cool – and were caught with just 100 metres to go. From there, Zabel did what he did best – sprint – and beat Lampre’s Daniele Bennati and Liberty’s Allan Davis.

There’s just one more race left in the ProTour – The Tour of Lombardy in Italy next weekend – however Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas-Bianchi) has already cinched the overall victory.

Results:

1 Erik Zabel (Ger) T-Mobile
2 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Lampre – Caffita
3 Allan Davis (Aus) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team a
4 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto
5 Alberto Ongarato (Ita) Fassa Bortolo
6 Aurélien Clerc (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems
7 Julian Dean (NZl) Crédit Agricole
8 René Haselbacher (Aut) Gerolsteiner
9 Uros Murn (Slo) Phonak Hearing Systems
10 Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Liquigas – Bianchi

October 10, 2004 – Rabo’s Erik Dekker took Paris Tours today over Gerolsteiner’s Danilo Hondo and new world champ Oscar Freire (Rabobank). Check out the pics from Cor Vos.

Results:

1. Erik Dekker (Ned) Rabobank 5.33.03 (45.49 km/h)
2. Danilo Hondo (Ger) Gerolsteiner
3. Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank
4. Allan Davis (Aus) Liberty Seguros
5. Stuart O’grady (Aus) Cofidis Credit Par Telephone
6. Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step-Davitamon
7. Matthias Kessler (Ger) T-Mobile Team
8. Uros Murn (Slo) Phonak Hearing Systems
9. Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Ag2R Prevoyance
10. Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Saeco

October 5, 2003 – The 9th round of the Men's road World Cup was won by German sprinter Erik Zabel, taking Paris Tours in 5:24. Zabel beat the 'Sprinter of 2003', Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bartolo) and Aussie Stuart O'Grady in a massive bunch sprint that followed a very fast 47.5km/h, 257k race. Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick.Step-Davitamon finished just outside the top-ten but still retains his World Cup leader's jersey, and looks poised to win the overall.

Paris Tours: 257k

1. Erik Zabel (Ger) Telekom                            5.24.55 (47.55 km/h)
2. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo
3. Stuart O'grady (Aus) Credit Agricole
4. Baden Cooke (Aus) FDJeux.com
5. Franck Renier (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere
6. Julian Dean (NZl) Team CSC
7. Stefano Zanini (Ita) Saeco
8. Luca Paolini (Ita) Quick Step-Davitamon
9. Fred Rodriguez (USA) Vini Caldirola-Saunier Duval
10. Peter Van Petegem (Bel) Lotto-Domo