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View Full Version : Erik Zabel has been left off the T-mobile TDF roster




squeegy200
06-16-05, 03:36 PM
Looks like T-mobile is going to focus its efforts on its three GC contenders. Erik didn't make the short list

http://velonews.com/race/int/articles/8218.0.html
Guest
06-16-05, 04:03 PM
Man, that's terrible! I am so used to hearing his name at the Tour that it's going to be strange not hearing his name being screamed in the final sprint. Too bad for Zabel. :(

Koffee
sh_wn
06-17-05, 08:36 AM
That's rough... I'll bet he's not happy...
sh_wn
06-17-05, 08:36 AM
I wonder if there's some internal problems...
jbonus
06-17-05, 12:06 PM
T-Mobile's serious about taking podium. Vino's in great shape and so is Ulle. Kloeden looks to be nearing Tour form. Ullrich's been quoted as saying that the team will ride for whoever looks to have the best chance to win. Their short list has mostly climber domestiques besides the three I mentioned.
gmason
06-17-05, 01:30 PM
That is too bad. But it has to end somewhere. Zabel has been offered a contract with the team after he finishes as a racer, so will probably stay there. But as one of the class acts of the peloton, I am sorry to see him waning.

One has to wonder whether starting in the Soviet bloc helped or hindered his career.
jkoman
06-17-05, 04:07 PM
Telecom is finally getting serious about trying to beat Lance...unfortunately it will be rare to have 1 team competing for multiple categories of a single GrandTour. Various teams will target differen't jerseys
ChAnMaN
06-17-05, 04:35 PM
ok so there are 3 guys that are better then him...but there are 9 spots. why doesn't he still get to race?
kubla khan
06-17-05, 07:11 PM
ok so there are 3 guys that are better then him...but there are 9 spots. why doesn't he still get to race?Supposedly because he is not as good in the mountains and not a fast enough team time trialist. I call bullshỉt on all this though.
gmason
06-18-05, 01:28 AM
Telecom is finally getting serious about trying to beat Lance

T-Mobile, however, seems to have two people trying for the GC. Vino says he will go for it regardless of Ullrich's attempts. Ullrich has actually said that if Vino is stronger, he will support Vino. That almost sounds like Ullrich has already set up to avoid making excuses later by making them before. That would be different.
ChAnMaN
06-18-05, 12:31 PM
Telecom is finally getting serious about trying to beat Lance

It's alittle late for that now isn't it?. Last year was the year to beat lance, this year it wont matter if he wins or loses.
Smoothie104
06-18-05, 02:09 PM
Zabel is one of the best sprinters when it comes to getting over the high climbs..

Damn.
jkoman
06-18-05, 10:55 PM
It's never too late if you win the TDF...and to beat LA would be even better if someone were to be so lucky and talented
jitteringjr
06-18-05, 11:17 PM
That is a bummer, but he should not have been on that team in the first place IMHO. Other sprinters have teams dedicated just to the sprinters. (ie Petacchi, Boonan, McEwen, and O'Grady) Lately, Zabel has not had the lead outs that he did 3 or 4 years ago because T mobile is trying to be a GC team instead of supporting Zabel.
Flaneur
06-19-05, 02:58 PM
Telekom have been hedging their bets for too long and with Zabel now past his prime, there is no sensible reason to continue to do so. Having two or three GC contenders on a team can be a blessing or a curse, as well................. a strong Directeur Sportif is essential.
squeegy200
06-20-05, 11:28 AM
That is a bummer, but he should not have been on that team in the first place IMHO. Other sprinters have teams dedicated just to the sprinters. (ie Petacchi, Boonan, McEwen, and O'Grady) Lately, Zabel has not had the lead outs that he did 3 or 4 years ago because T mobile is trying to be a GC team instead of supporting Zabel.

I agree.
squeegy200
06-20-05, 11:29 AM
............ a strong Directeur Sportif is essential.

This has always been a problem there. These guys have their own individual programs and their own trainers. None of them work together.

For instance, Jan never shows up for team bike fittings. T-Mobile last year leased the Audi wind tunnel to design and tune their TT bikes. Jan didn't show up. Did his own fitting on his own time on his own bike.

Another reason that last Director resigned.
gcasillo
06-20-05, 01:17 PM
Two man race for the maillot vert? Boonen and McEwen. Who else can contend?
lotek
06-20-05, 01:22 PM
Two man race for the maillot vert? Boonen and McEwen. Who else can contend?
Thor?
Julian Dean
Robbie Hunter? he's no slouch just needs to come into his own.

Marty
squeegy200
06-20-05, 03:47 PM
There was speculation that he may be with Gerolsteiner next year. I find Erik's persistent placings in the last two years despite not having a dedicated sprinters team like Fasso Bartolo, yet he is still in the bunch sprint at the end of each race.

Vino as well has been in negotiations.
gcasillo
06-20-05, 04:01 PM
Thor?
Julian Dean
Robbie Hunter? he's no slouch just needs to come into his own.

Marty
Yeah, Thor. He's only one of my favorites. Hunter's capable of notching a couple of stages too. He's had a real nice season so far for a real nice Phonak squad. I'd like to see O'Grady mix it up too.
jitteringjr
06-21-05, 02:16 AM
Two man race for the maillot vert? Boonen and McEwen. Who else can contend?


What about Petacchi? Didn't he abandon last year as the points leader? If he can keep up in the mountain stages, he should be a contender. Also, Di Luca is on fire this year. I don't think he can beat Robbie, but I do think he will help make things interesting.
gcasillo
06-21-05, 04:44 AM
I've read somewhere that Petacchi isn't doing the Tour this year.
jitteringjr
06-21-05, 08:31 AM
I've read somewhere that Petacchi isn't doing the Tour this year.

You happen to remember where you read that? I did a simple browse looking for that kind of info before I posted it, but didn't find anything.
Laggard
06-21-05, 08:51 AM
I also read that Peta won't be attending. Something about resting up for the worlds.
Smoothie104
06-21-05, 09:17 AM
He's not:

read it here, this site is pretty good once the TdF gets rolling, a lot of inside info, gossip, and cool stuff that doesnt show up on the other cycling news sites.

save it to your favorites for July.

http://www.tdfblog.com/2005/01/petacchi_to_ski.html
jitteringjr
06-21-05, 10:23 AM
He's not:

read it here, this site is pretty good once the TdF gets rolling, a lot of inside info, gossip, and cool stuff that doesnt show up on the other cycling news sites.

save it to your favorites for July.

http://www.tdfblog.com/2005/01/petacchi_to_ski.html

Man that was from January, no wonder I missed it. I didn't look that far back. Thanks for the url Smotthie.

Funny though, his reasoning doesn't make sense to me. I would think that if he wanted to focus on the Worlds, that he would ride part or all of the TdF and skip the Vuelta and take that time for train for the Worlds since the Vuelta finishes only one week before Worlds.
Csson
06-21-05, 05:29 PM
his reasoning doesn't make sense to me. I would think that if he wanted to focus on the Worlds, that he would ride part or all of the TdF and skip the Vuelta and take that time for train for the Worlds since the Vuelta finishes only one week before Worlds.

The Vuelta is often used to prepare for the Worlds, like when Ullrich won both the Vuelta and Worlds ITT in 1999..

BTW, no DiLuca at TdF either.
OC Roadie
06-21-05, 06:05 PM
You happen to remember where you read that? I did a simple browse looking for that kind of info before I posted it, but didn't find anything.
He's not riding the Tour because he wants to take a chance at the Worlds this year.

Sorry, didn't see you already caught that.
jitteringjr
06-21-05, 10:21 PM
BTW, no DiLuca at TdF either.

Hmm didn't know that either, bummer. I would have liked to see him in it.