Road Bike Racing - Is something wrong with Zabel?

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rygreen
06-04-04, 12:16 PM
Is something wrong with Eric Zabel? He hasn't gotten a sniff at any stage wins so far in the Tour of Germany (4th, 20th, 7th in the bunch sprints) although his team has been working to lead him out. I would expect better of someone who has won so consistently over the past several years. Has he just been in bad position, or is he in poor form? I didn't think sprinters had to "come into form" like GC men; was I wrong in thinking that?

Smoothie104
06-04-04, 12:43 PM
Sprinters have peaks in their fitness and form just like any other rider.
rygreen
06-04-04, 07:33 PM
I guess I was just used to watching Petacchi win stages in all the grand tours, and figured it was easier for sprinters to stay near the top of their form.

Laggard
06-04-04, 08:36 PM
Zabel was never really a pure sprinter like Peta is.

Plus he is getting up there in age.
wabbit
06-05-04, 10:16 AM
He usually peaks for the tour. It may also be age, but keep in mind that Cipo kept on winning and winning, breaking Binda's record last year when he was 36! He hasn't been at his peak since then, but at 37 that is understandable. You can't be as fast as you were at 27!