A who's who of cycling's fastest sprinters will assemble in Paris on Sunday hoping to claim a prestigious victory in what will be the 100th edition of the Paris-Tours one-day classic.

From Belgian starlet Tom Boonen to aging German Erik Zabel, almost the entire European sprint squadron will turn up to pay their respects in the254.5 km race that was first won by Eugene Prevost, as an amateur, in 1896.

Quick Step sprinter Boonen recently failed to defend his world champion's rainbow jersey in Salzburg, and will be motivated to make amends on a luscious and seemingly endless home straight that has, nevertheless, seen Zabel win there a record-matching three times, including a narrow win at last year's edition..

As well as his vast experience, the German has current form in his favor having sprinted to second place to claim the road race silver medal behind Paolo Bettini. Boonen missed the last-second split in the field at world’s and finished ninth.

Among the large handful of contenders, the likes of Norwegian Thor Hushovd, Australian Stuart O'Grady and Italian Daniele Bennati will also have their eye on the prize.

A few notable absentees
None of the above will likely mourn the absence of Italian sprinter Alessandro Petacchi, who, like Spanish ace Oscar Freire, is still recovering from injury. Petacchi, who broke his kneecap in May at the Giro d’Italia, returned to the sport in time for the Vuelta but then broke his hand in a momentary lapse of judgment that prompted him to punch a bus after being cut off in a sprint.

Davitamon's Robbie McEwen is also a big name absentee having returned to his native Australia to prepare for upcoming races there.

For Boonen, it is a chance to lift his relatively dour end to the season with a victory pick-me-up.

The 25-year-old Belgian didn't bother to race here last year, although that was understandable given he was still celebrating and answering the hundreds of media requests that followed his rainbow jersey victory in Madrid.

Boonen's bid could also be indirectly boosted by the absence of Italian teammate Paolo Bettini, who will be racing in Italy on Sunday.

Only two weeks after his own rainbow jersey win, tragedy struck Bettini and his family in midweek when his brother Sauro was killed in a car accident in their home town in Tuscany.

It means Boonen, who knows the 2.4km home straight on Avenue de Grammont well having won a stage of the Tour de France there in 2005, should have the unflinching support of teammate Filippo Pozzato.

Although Belgians can boast the lion's share of victories on the race, winning 37 of the previous 99, their last victory goes back to Marc Wauters, in 1999.

Zabel meanwhile used his vast experience to hold off Bennati and Australian sprinters Allan Davis and McEwen last year, thus adding to wins in 2003 and 1994.

After picking up his worlds silver medal two weeks ago, the 36-year-old Milram rider just as quickly said that his next plan was to go one step higher on the podium - at Paris-Tours.