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Pssst! The latest insider news: A day without a race in the life of Erik Zabel
31/10/2024
During the racing season Erik Zabel is very busy. The 36-year-old Team MILRAM pro competes on average 210 days a year. But even in autumn, when the racing season has come to an end, Erik Zabel scarcely has any time to relax. This poses the question, “What does a pro rider's day look like when there no races are scheduled?" The publication Der Kuhrier accompanied the very busy Team MILRAM rider on such a day without a race.
Thursday, 19 October, 8 am – The alarm goes off. Although there’s no race today, the Team MILRAM captain still has to get up early, because his first appointment is scheduled in just a few hours. The Team MILRAM rider is the star guest at the opening of MILRAM’s Milchbar (milk bar) in Hamburg’s main station. He and his wife Cordula travelled to Hamburg the previous day for the event.
9 am – The MILRAM car and driver are already waiting at the door to take Erik Zabel and his wife to Hamburg’s main station, where the pro is already expected. After being welcomed by the NORDMILCH representatives Erik Zabel takes a bit of time for some short conversations and then it’s time for the opening ceremony.
10:30 am – Showdown. Surrounded by journalists, photographers and numerous fans, Erik Zabel, Martin Mischel and Frank Schröder declare the Milchbar officially open. The Team MILRAM pro has just a few minutes to enjoy his favourite milkshake, choco-banana, as the fans are already waiting for him. Erik Zabel patiently attends to his fans, signing autographs, answering questions and posing for pictures over and over. After the autograph hour, it’s the journalists’ turn. The Team MILRAM captain is a popular interview partner. This is mainly due to the fact that he always responds to the journalists’ questions cordially and without hesitation.
Noon – Finally, five minutes to catch his breath. After the opening of the milk bar Erik Zabel is escorted back to his hotel. But the Team MILRAM pro can’t indulge in a nice long break now. The next appointment is already waiting. Erik Zabel is scheduled to meet with an editor of the cycling magazine Tour at the hotel for an interview. And that won’t be the last interview for the day, as the next one is scheduled directly after it.
1:30 pm – An interview and countless autographs. An editor of the online newspaper Spiegel.de is already waiting for his Q&A; session with Erik Zabel. After talking to the journalists the Team MILRAM pro once again devotes some time to his fans. He signs countless autographs and MILRAM team caps, in addition to the 100 Team MILRAM jerseys that will be sold in the MILRAM Online Shop from November.
3 pm - He’s got to ride. In spite of the stressful appointments and interviews this morning the Team MILRAM rider takes advantage of his free afternoon to do some training. He takes his bike along with him on every trip, so that he can practice. So it’s hardly surprising that Ete logs about 40,000 km a year on his bike. His ride today covers 60 km, which takes him just under 2 hours. And after that, there’s still no time for a break. After returning to the hotel, Erik Zabel has just a little time to freshen up before the driver picks him up for his next appointment of the day.
6:45 pm – Spot on! The last appointment this evening is a TV appearance. Erik Zabel is a guest on the NDR talk-show DAS! He sits on the red sofa and chats good humouredly about cycling, his family, and how he manages to combine the two.
8 pm – Homeward bound! Directly after the TV show, Erik Zabel and his wife Cordula head back home. They have to drive home tonight because another important appointment is scheduled for tomorrow. Around 11 pm they finally arrive in Unna. The following day, in Dortmund, the Team MILRAM rider will accept the “Eisene Reinoldus 2006”, a prize awarded by the press association of the Rhine Dortmund / Unna district for the friendly way in which he deals with the press.
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