It's another accountability moment. Here at the Podium Cafe, we're all about accountability. Someone in this country has to be.
Martin Elmiger -- Rating: ★★
Crashed out, didn't he? Rating: INC
Baden Cooke -- Rating: ★★
He was in the mix til the latter stages; faded later. Rating: rated
JJ Rojas Gil -- Rating: ★
Led home the C-list peloton at 16' down. Rating: "rated"
Nick Nuyens -- Rating: ★★★
I never saw the guy. Not his race. Rating: overrated
Staf Schierlinckx -- Rating: ★★
Cofidis' best rider on the day. Rating: rated
Thor Hushovd -- Rating: ★★
DNF, haven't heard why. At P-R you need to keep an open mind about why a good rider may have disappeared. Rating: INC
Steffen Wesemann -- Rating: ★★
Right in there with the B-list. I predict he'll be the first 60-year-old to finish the race in a few decades. Rating: rated
Christophe Mengin -- Rating: ★★
25th again, with the Nuyens group [yawn]. Rating: rated
George Hincapie -- Rating: ★★★
Another strong ride obliterated by fate. Bet you didn't see that one coming. Rating: rated
Roger Hammond -- Rating: ★
Looked mildly threatening in the last hour, but consigned to teamwork. Rating: slightly underrated
Alessandro Ballan -- Rating: ★★★★★
Nailed this one. Rating: rated
Filippo Pozzato -- Rating: ★★★
... and this one. Rating: rated
Tom Boonen -- Rating: ★★★★★
... and this one! Rating: rated
Stijn Devolder -- Rating: ★
He got this rating because I didn't think he'd be given any leeway to win, not because of weakness. Attacking at 50km doesn't do much to dissuade me from this, but he played his role very, very well. Rating: underrated
Wouter Weylandt -- Rating: ★★
The understudy... with the Nuyens group. Should have made it later into the race with the leaders. Rating: slightly overrated
Juan Antonio Flecha -- Rating: ★★★★
See Hincapie. He was strong... Rating: rated
Seb Langeveld -- Rating: ★★
Made his debut. Crashed, burned, lesson learned. Rating: INC
Leif H\o/ste -- Rating: ★★★
Here's what I said: "Whatever. He'll be in the mix. And he won't win." Nailed it. Rating: rated
Bert Roesems -- Rating: ★
Never saw him. Can one star be too many? Rating: INC
Magnus Backstedt -- Rating: ★★★
I guess training on the rollers for most of spring just really can't get it done. One of these days... Rating: overrated (for now) INC (see comments for the real story)
Fabian Cancellara -- Rating: ★★★★
Probably deserved an extra star. I suppose it would help if I made up some standards for this so-called "system." Rating: slightly underrated
Stuart O'Grady -- Rating: ★★★
Defended with honor, as a lieutenant. Rating: slightly underrated
Kurt Asle Arvesen -- Rating: ★
I probably should have used this slot for Breschel, who's been better lately. No reflection on Arvesen though. Rating: rated