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Erik Zabel, Milram

17 March 2006

The Sprint Master

 

Erik Zabel (35) is a sprint master, first on the scene since 1992 and he has been amassing a huge palmarès ever since. Over the winter he made a switch from the pink colors of T-Mobile to the new blue Milram Squadra. His sprint skills that carried him to four Milano-Sanremo victories will be a deadly match when combined with his new teammate, Alessandro Petacchi. The Milram sprint duo will be going full bore in la Classicissima this weekend, but the German was kind enough to spare a few minutes for a BiciRace.com interview.

The New Milram Squadra

BiciRace.com:  Ciao Erik. Thanks for joining BiciRace.com in an interview. Your new Milram squadra is registered as an Italian squadra, but is it more German than Italian?
Erik Zabel:  Italian. No, just the main sponsor is German
BR:  Is the official language of the team is English?
EZ:  Yes, English.
BR:  So are you and Petacchi conversing in English and hand gestures?
EZ:  Yes... In Italian, English, and often hand gestures.
BR:  Are you finding new motivation with Milram after being with T-Mobile (Telekom) for 13 years?
EZ:  I was always motivated in all my years in cycling. Now with team Milram I'm still going.
BR:  Very good. And after the team camps are the Germans (from Team Wiesenhof) mixing well with the Italians?
EZ:  Yes, we have a good relationship with harmony and trust.
BR:  Are you happy to be in blue and not to have to wear pink anymore?
EZ:  Pink was OK, and I find blue is also OK.

la Bici Colnago

BR:  This season you are back on an Italian bike, after racing the last two years with Giant. Have you ever raced on a Colnago before?
EZ:  Yes, in my first year when I was amateur.
BR:  This year you will be using the Cristallo model? Did you select this particular model or did the team decide for you?
EZ:  I use the Cristallo and the C50 model. I decide from day to day which bike to use.
BR:  The Cristallo frame is less 'compact' than the Giant. After using the bike in the early races are you satisfied with the responsiveness in the sprints?
EZ:  Yes, this is a perfect bike.
BR:  What other models will you use this season? Perhaps a different model for the 'northern races', like Flanders and Roubaix?
EZ:  I will use their Cristallo, C50, C50 Extreme and Crono.
BR:  Oh, nice... In the past you had a close relationship with Giant, helping develop their bikes, will you have a similar relationship with Colnago?
EZ:  I think that Colnago doesn't need any of my help!
BR:  True, they are masters. You have a collection of 55 bikes in Germany? Is the collection still growing in size?
EZ:  Maybe when I will see a nice Colnago bike then I ask him [sig. Colnago] for this to add to the collection.
BR:  What are the latest bikes that you have bought to add to your collection?
EZ:  The one from the last Paris-Tours.
BR:  Congratulations on winning Paris-Tours last season. In your bike collection which bicycle means the most to you?
EZ:  I love all of them. The Colnago CF1 is nice and also my green Pinarello Paris models.

Signor 4X - Milano-Sanremo

"On the Cipressa you have to be in the first 50. Then on the Poggio you have to be in the first 20. Descending the Poggio it is better to stay towards the front, especially for the last two curves before the Via Roma. The road rises a little and often there will be a headwind. Then the rest is a mystery. The strong will always win, because Sanremo is a course that is very difficult. And if there is bad weather, well then it will become a mess." - Zabel on Sanremo Finale

BR:  You have won La Classicissima, Milano-Sanremo, an amazing four times, the most of any rider in recent history. As a German how well do you know the Italian roads leading to Sanremo?
EZ:  I have ridden this race 13 times. I think that is the most beautiful race of the world!
BR:  It is! How special is the start of the race for you from the city center (Piazza Sant'Ambrogio) in Milano?
EZ:  I like this race... The start in the center of Milano is very fashionable.
BR:  This year you will have Mirko Celestino and Alessandro Petacchi in the same team for Sanremo. The race means so much to all three of you, Alessandro won last year, Mirko lives directly on the route, and you are a four time winner! What will be your role in the race?
EZ:  I'm part of a wonderful team Milram and we'll try to win this race, so the rest is not important.
BR:  Would you consider going with an early escape?
EZ:  Never say never. But I like more to ride a classical finale.
BR:  So when it comes to the sprint on the Via Roma what gearing will you use? A 53x11?
EZ:  Yes, this is enough for me.

Green Power: le Tour

BR:  Will you go to the Tour de France as Milram's team leader?
EZ:  I hope to be good and healthy in July. Then we'll see.
BR:  Your objective will be for the Green jersey and also stages?
EZ:  Yes, why not.
BR:  Who are the main riders you will count on for your lead-out train?
EZ:  We have lots of good and fast riders like: [Björn] Schröder, [Sebastian] Siedler, [Simone] Cadamuro, [Daniel] Becke, [Elia] Rigotto, [Alberto] Ongarato, [Marco] Velo, [Fabio] Sacchi...
BR:  You will have a good selection to choose from. Will it be strange to see your old teammates, like Jan Ullrich, now that you are on a different team?
EZ:  Yes, it will be strange.
BR:  OK, so who do you think will win the Tour this year?
EZ:  I have no idea! We see what the future brings.

Passion for Cycling

BR:  You are one of the few riders that races from the beginning of the season to the end (even doing some Six Day events). What is your secret to keeping your motivation high through such a long and grueling season?
EZ:  Well, cycling and racing are my passions.
BR:  Do you ever have time in the year for vacation?
EZ:  I take two weeks for vacation.
BR:  Where do you spend those two weeks? What is your favorite place to holiday?
EZ:  Western or Eastern Caribik (Caribbean Islands).
BR:  What is your favorite place to holiday in Italy?
EZ:  Roma, Bergamo, Venezia, Milano....
BR:  Have you started to cycle with you son?
EZ:  Yes, he is very interested in cycling.
BR:  Finally, have you visited BiciRace.com? Do you like the website?
EZ:  No, I never visit this website, because I don't have a computer. Maybe if I buy a computer in the future!
BR:  OK! Thanks for taking time out of your schedule for a BiciRace.com Interview. Good luck with the spring. Ciao!

Teams: Union-Fröndenberg (1992), Telekom / T-Mobile (1993-2005), Milram (2006)