Saturday, October 08, 2005
The Cyclist's Circle of Life
The Alpha and the Omega of Erik Zabel's career by Telekom or T-Mobile arrives on Sunday in the form of Paris-Tours. Eleven years ago the young German sprinter announced his arrival in the international pro scene with his first win in a classic. Of course he would go on to confirm his performance, claiming two of the top prizes for sprinters -- Milan-San Remo and the Tour de France's green jersey -- as his birthrights. So it is somehow appropriate that when Zabel -- one of the few riders left in the peloton who competes throughout the entire racing calendar -- ends his long career with the German squad, he will do so after completing the final promenade down the famous long final 2400 meter straight-away.
It is perhaps ironic that Zabel's rise to dominance in Milan-San Remo -- ushering in an era of bunch sprint finishes to a race that had long been dominated by soloing winners -- would coincide with the break of the sprinter's vice grip on Paris-Tours. In the past seven years, only once has the race ended in a bunch sprint. While Zabel could go with a break, he is unlikely to, or perhaps more precisely, a small break is unlikely to continue working to give Zabel a free lift to the line. So look for T-Mobile to be working hard on Sunday to bring the peloton into Tours and over the final short climb complete before lining up a lead-out train one final time for the squads most successful rider.
The longer-toothed Zabel no longer rules the mass sprints like he once did. Indeed, this season "his" place more often has been second. And while both Boonen and Pettachi -- the new bearers of the sprinting standard -- are absent from the race of the turning leaves, Zabel will face plenty of competition from Robbie McEwen, Thor Hushovd, and especially Daniele Bannati, who has had an impressive if low-profile fall campaign. But I'm hoping that once again we'll see life imitate art, and give the poetic victory to the graybeard from Unna.
(I'm travelling for a couple days, but will try and post some comentary on the race Tuesday when I'm back. In the meantime, consider your entry for the "What Erik Zabel Means To Me" essay contest.)
It is perhaps ironic that Zabel's rise to dominance in Milan-San Remo -- ushering in an era of bunch sprint finishes to a race that had long been dominated by soloing winners -- would coincide with the break of the sprinter's vice grip on Paris-Tours. In the past seven years, only once has the race ended in a bunch sprint. While Zabel could go with a break, he is unlikely to, or perhaps more precisely, a small break is unlikely to continue working to give Zabel a free lift to the line. So look for T-Mobile to be working hard on Sunday to bring the peloton into Tours and over the final short climb complete before lining up a lead-out train one final time for the squads most successful rider.
The longer-toothed Zabel no longer rules the mass sprints like he once did. Indeed, this season "his" place more often has been second. And while both Boonen and Pettachi -- the new bearers of the sprinting standard -- are absent from the race of the turning leaves, Zabel will face plenty of competition from Robbie McEwen, Thor Hushovd, and especially Daniele Bannati, who has had an impressive if low-profile fall campaign. But I'm hoping that once again we'll see life imitate art, and give the poetic victory to the graybeard from Unna.
(I'm travelling for a couple days, but will try and post some comentary on the race Tuesday when I'm back. In the meantime, consider your entry for the "What Erik Zabel Means To Me" essay contest.)
