Vino the Joker in "Team-Zabel"
The German T-Mobile Team will start saturday in Milan - San Remo with Erik Zabel as their leadsman. Besides Erik Zabel is also Alexander Vinokourov a man to beat.
Zabel is at the classicissima the man with the most victories and the most experience in the peloton. This is one big adventage in this tactical race. Four times (1997, 1998, 2000, 2001) "Ete" was succesfull at the Via Roma, and saturday Zabel is again a candidate for the victory. Although Zabel has lost all his sprints in the beginning of the new season, the fact is that the 'Milan - San Remo sprint' will be very different from other big- or small tours. But a handicap for Zabel is: "He doesn't have the men who can lead him to the sprint anymore."
The 2nd leader at T-mobile is Alexander Vinokourov, who is been in a good shape after three impressive wins in Paris-Nice last week. The rider from Kazakhstan is therefor the perfect "joker" of the magenta-team. He is the perfect man to attack on the Poggio or maybe even earlier on the Cipressa so that orders are forced, to react.
The three victories in Paris-Nice is the main reason Vinokourov is the 2nd leader against Zabel. When the situation is there and Vino is in a break-away who could reach to the finish, Zabel wouldn't be dissapointed and mad on him.
Also teamchef Mario Kummer said Vinokourov can force something on the Poggio and can maybe win this race because his shape is better than at this time last year.
"In case of an attack Vinokourov must decide, whether it disturbs the rythm untill I'm back and he can help me in the sprint, or whether he feels good enaugh himself to force something", Zabel said. With the finish on the Via Roma, Zabel sees good chances to win. In that case they have to attack several times on the Cipressa or the Poggio to lose Petacchi. But Vinokourov does not hold back with his ambitions. "If it becomes a sprint I will support Erik, but perhaps in addition there is a chance for an attack before."
Thanks to: Bart Hazen (www.cyclingfx.nl) |
