We live in interesting times. The talent has always been there, we've known that from the start. He got results early on, too. Surely he was a top - or at least subtop -
rider in most people's book by the time his second season was over. But after a third season, we can only accept the impossible. We have found a new Eddy Merckx.

Allow me to come forward with evidence. Forget that since the 21st stage of the Giro, he's only not-won 2 races: the national road race and the world championships time trial, where he took bronze. For the sake of being fair, let's also include Tre Valli Varesine, although that hardly counts. We'll leave all that behind. Forget that he's won a very mountainous edition of Lombardia on pure gusto and strength. Forget all that. Let's just focus on the last WT race of the season.


Paris - Tours is one for sprinters but it doesn't always turn out that way. For example, last year we had some late attackers, with Sénéchal winning it and Antonio Andolini in second position. Both were at the start today, too. Though we'd favor one over the other today, obviously.

The start of the race was quite hectic and there was a constant, high pace.


25 km from the finish, Offredo opened the race with a brave attempt. But no one joined him and his attempt failed.


Still, it succeeded in inspiring others to follow his example. Lutsenko and Dillier tried to break away from the peloton. And as seen from the helicopter camera, we saw a white dot jump rather quickly from the peloton to the attackers. The World Champion decided to risk his chances on this attack, still 18 km from the finish!


The peloton refused to let the trio go, for obvious reasons.


The peloton refused, but Ando refused to be caught. Now who would have to compromise?


The pace was so high, his breakaway companions dropped off, completely dead.


Hey, let this be a warning: don't go with the Ando.


At one point, we saw the peloton cracking. They were out of workers and the sprinters themselves wouldn't do the work. Ando had won.


And so Tours welcomed a master, a champion, one of a kind. For this humble Captain Bike Racer, it has been the moment I was convinced: this is no ordinary albeit talented bike rider. No, a fellow like this only comes along a very few times in history. And I firmly believe now, that Ando is the finest rider we've had since the Badget, Bernard Hinault.


Peter Sagan is once again diminished to second-rate cyclist, winning the peloton sprint, but way behind Ando.