Road Bike Racing - Erik Zabel Announces

Velonews reported late Sunday that Erik Zabel has announced his departure from T-mobile. Apparently he's quite PO'd. I heard T-mobile was offering him a commentators/management position upon his retirement.

Has not yet annouced where he will go. But I get the impression he's so mad, he knows he's going somewhere other than T-mobile.

http://www.velonews.com/race/int/articles/8635.0.html

realy makes you wonder about the guys running the show at t-mob. 2 of their stars leaving in less than 2 weeks--mid season no less. at the rate guys have been stagnating and syphoning through that team, they might have a hard time attracting talent in the future.

looks like they made too many sacrifices just to only get jan on the podium.

Doesn't come as a really big shock to me. Isn't he getting up there in age? 35 ... let's see how many more good years he has left.

realy makes you wonder about the guys running the show at t-mob. 2 of their stars leaving in less than 2 weeks--mid season no less.

.

Replaced by Michael Rogers and Patrik Sinkewitz. Good additions, I say.

i stand corrected, i didnt know they had already filled the vacancies.

but still, it seems like not everyone finds t-mobile the right fit. and i just dont understand at all why godefroot insults his riders openly in the press.

but still, it seems like not everyone finds t-mobile the right fit.


Correct. Ask Cadel Evans.

After reading the title, I thought he was retiring. The only thing I like about T-Mobile are the Catherine Zeta-Jones commercials. :D

Correct. Ask Cadel Evans.
Or Savoldelli.

I'm sad to see Zabel go. I really like him, and it would've been great to see him finish with the team he started with.

realy makes you wonder about the guys running the show at t-mob. 2 of their stars leaving in less than 2 weeks--mid season no less.

personnel errors, technical and strategic errors.....they have a long history of this....

Replaced by Michael Rogers and Patrik Sinkewitz. Good additions, I say.

You think? I'm not sure if anyone is a good fit at T-Mobile. Sinkewitz and Rogers are great signings from a talent point of view. Both are young and have potentialy great futures. It was interesting that the two teamed up for this last weekends Luk Challenge.

There was an article published recently on this exact topic. The article followed comments made by T-mobile management soon after Savoldelli won the Giro D Italia for Discovery. They even made the point that Jan Ullrich's best podium position was achieved while he was with Team Bianchi. The writer pointed out several careers which have stagnated while riding under the pink flag of T-mobile

looks like they made too many sacrifices just to only get jan on the podium.

And at the same time, not enough. They've spent several years with multiple 'leaders' at the TdF, trying to compete with a strong team that had a single, unified goal at that race. This year they leave their sprinter behind, but include Vino and Kloden to muddy the waters.

I hope EZ finds a place that will let him unleash himself.

I really think Jan should have gone to CSC when he had the chance.

They even made the point that Jan Ullrich's best podium position was achieved while he was with Team Bianchi.

I am guessing you mean other than winning the Tour?

You think? I'm not sure if anyone is a good fit at T-Mobile. Sinkewitz and Rogers are great signings from a talent point of view. Both are young and have potentialy great futures. It was interesting that the two teamed up for this last weekends Luk Challenge.

Yeah...from the vitriol over Sinkewitz leaving, it sounded like he'd never wear Quick Step kit again.

i stand corrected, i didnt know they had already filled the vacancies.

but still, it seems like not everyone finds t-mobile the right fit. and i just dont understand at all why godefroot insults his riders openly in the press.

problem may get fixed somewhat this winter. goodefroot is supposedly retiring as DS

problem may get fixed somewhat this winter. goodefroot is supposedly retiring as DS


Erik was supposed to fill that seat....not any more!!

Erik was supposed to fill that seat....not any more!!

I thought Godefrot was mentoring Mario Kummer for that position. Walter agreed to stay on for one more year while the new DS learned the ropes.

In reality, the Director Sportif is Jan Ulrich. He got his favorite personal trainer-Rudy Pevanage- a job with T-mobile as the team trainer. Sign on for an additional year--Despite the fact that Godefrot banned Pevanage from team events during the season and the team cars during races. No wonder Godefrot doesn't want the job anymore.

BTW: Jan's brother is the head mechanic for T-mobile as well. I wonder who's decision it was to hire him? I doubt it was T-mobile management who read thru his resume.

I thought Godefrot was mentoring Mario Kummer for that position. Walter agreed to stay on for one more year while the new DS learned the ropes.

In reality, the Director Sportif is Jan Ulrich. He got his favorite personal trainer-Rudy Pevanage- a job with T-mobile as the team trainer. Sign on for an additional year--Despite the fact that Godefrot banned Pevanage from team events during the season and the team cars during races. No wonder Godefrot doesn't want the job anymore.

BTW: Jan's brother is the head mechanic for T-mobile as well. I wonder who's decision it was to hire him? I doubt it was T-mobile management who read thru his resume.


Kummer has been excellent for T-Mobile. Tough old East German.