Erik Zabel has to cancel start in Lüttich-Bastogne-Lüttich

Publiceret af: danny 2008-04-25

Team MILRAM will have to do without Erik Zabel in the 93d Lüttich-Bastogne-Lüttich.  The 37 year-old MILRAM captain is still suffering from painful bruises to his right knee and left elbow, and can only do light training.   In addition to Zabel, MILRAM will also not be able to use the injured riders Martin Velits and Ralf Grabsch.  The team will be strengthened in the last of the Ardennes Trilogy by youngsters Artur Gajek and Dominik Roels.
„The loss of Erik, Martin and Ralf on Sunday is really too bad,“ said MILRAM's Christian Knees.  „Hopefully they will all be back racing again soon.  The big season highlights are slowly but surely approaching.“  Despite the injury problems, Knees is looking forward to the Classic on Sunday:  „It is my first Lüttich-Bastogne-Lüttich, and of course I am very motivated.“
MILRAM captain Erik Zabel was involved in a mass crash on Wednesday, April 23, in the Fleche Wallone, along with teammate Martin Velits.  Zabel injured in  right knee and left elbow, but no bones were broken.  The 23 year-old Velits landed on his right hand, which he had previously injured in the Ronde van Vlaanderen.  Ralf Grabsch is continuing to take a break from racing.  The 35 year-old suffered an infection of the left kneecap in a training accident and is not expected to start training again until next week.
In addition, MILRAM's Italian sprinter Alessandro Petacchi has had a setback in his preparations for the Giro d'Italia.  The 34 year-old is suffering from the flu and has to make his third pause since Milano-Sanremo.  „Alessandro was already suffering in the Classicissima, it didn't get better in Mergelland and things just got worse in the Tour of Turkey,“ said a worried team manager Gerry van Gerwen.  „He has to take antibiotics again and take a break.  That is of course very unfortunate in light of the Giro.“
The MILRAM line-up: Andrey Grivko (UKR/ Simferopol), Artur Gajek (GER / Bergisch Gladbach), Christian Knees (GER / Euskirchen), Dominik Roels (GER / Köln), Igor Astarloa (ESP / Monte Carlo), Peter Velits (SVK / Puchov), Matej Jurco (SVK / Liptovsky Hradok), Sebastian Schwager (GER / Neusäß)
Directeur Sportif: Jochen Hahn (GER / Berlin)
Press Office Team MILRAM