The 2005 edition will remain marked by the success of Erik Zabel who, eleven years after his first victory in the Touraine region, once again made a name for himself on the Avenue de Grammont. Relentless attacks at the start of the race, until a group of three men was formed (Posthuma, J.J. Gutierrez and Bergès) livened up the start of an event that, for several years, had no longer been a real success for sprinters. Everyone was finding themselves believing, so much so that once the breakaways were caught up with, it didn't take long before four others followed suit, with only Devolder and Gilbert seeing it through to the very end. Or almost. The two Belgian racers were still eleven seconds ahead under the red pennant; however, faced with sprinters wanting to take back their prerogative on ground that was traditionally devoted to their cause, the pack sped through the final hectometres at lightening speed for a sprint that crowned Erik Zabel, from then on the event's record holder alongside the Belgians Danneels and Reybroeck and the Frenchman Maye, with three titles.