"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Zabel in green ?

After Zabel yesterday was 2nd placed, he is 13 pts behind McGee and suddenly is back in the race for the green jersey.
He has become a more complete rider in the past 3 years and has less problems on mountain stages. Meanwhile, other sprinters lose a lot of energy there.
Still, there are another 2 chances left, one in Bordeaux and one on the Champs Elysée.
Is Zabel able to win once again the green ?

Nah! It'll be an Aussie.:D

nasty patriot... ;)

Did I say McGee ?
Sorry, Baden Cooke is the leader with 156 pts, 2nd is McEwen (148 pts), 3rd is Zabel (143 pts).

I would love to see Zabel take the green.
He is a class act, the real deal (when the other
sprinters are dying like animals on the climbs
he is firmly ensconced in the peloton or groupetto).

I figure that Eric is gonna retire after this year,
any thoughts on this?

Marty

zabel said in a velonews article this morning (or maybe cyclingnews...don't remember) that he didn't care about the green jersey. he'd just like a stage win. he also said he knows he's not one of the fastest guys in the peloton anymore. sounds like he's either downplaying his ambition, or just being honest.

(although it occurs to me that if he were to win a stage or two, that might just be enough points to win him green if he does ok in the intermediates)

Zabel will ride for at least 2 or 3 years (Telekom contract), he´s now, I guess, 34 (?)
He doesn´t have the acceleration and top speed he once had.
Therefore he became a better climber.
Today he was placed 12th, one place behind McEwen. But one ahead of Cooke.
How many points are this now ?
Well, doesn´t look that good for Zabel....

I don't think he can do it, though I'd like to see it. 3 stages left, 2 are flat and he can't outsprint McEwen though he might be better than Cooke after the mountains. There are no points in the TT.

Does he take a big chance and go on a breakaway tomorrow? There's bound to be one. McEwen and Cooke will have to go with him. Can Zabel, maybe with some Telekom support ride them off his wheel?

Now that I think about it Telekom can't provide much support b/c they're protecting Vino's podium spot. If Vino goes that gets everyone going and then you're all back in one big group again.

It would probably be best to stay in the peleton since they would chase him down eventually if he went in a break... and finishing 10th on the stage gives way way more points than finishing 100th (if he got caught and had nothing left).

I would like to see him win it.

I think that is true, that he is probably less worn from the mountains as the rest.