1.1 rated pro race to run alongside Velothon in German capital
Erik Zabel is the driving force and sports director behind a new 1.1 ranked race to be held in his hometown of Berlin, the capital of Germany, on May 22nd next year, according to Radsport-news.com. The German sprint legend was present at a press conference today in which the race was announced; the event is to be held alongside the amateur Berlin Velothon, which will be entering its fourth year in 2011.
The race will be run over a 180km, including a 120km around the German countryside, followed by several loops of a 9km circuit in the centre of the German capital itself. Starting at 1.1 level, the race has ambitions to move up to be part of the International Cycling Union (UCI) World Tour by 2013; since the demise of the Deutschland Tour in 2008, Germany’s only race at the sport’s top level is the Vattenfall Cyclassics, in Hamburg each August.
With the race likely to end in a sprint the race organisers are hopeful that German sprinter Andre Greipel (OmegaPharma-Lotto) will be there, as well as other sprinters Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Cervélo), and Robbie McEwen (Pegasus), but acknowledges that there may be a problem as the event clashes with the Giro d’Italia.
One rider who hopes to be able to ride is Berliner Jens Voigt, who leaves the Sao Bank team this year for the Luxembourg team of the Schleck brothers.
“I very much hope that my team Luxembourg, for which I am now signing, will send me with a team to Berlin,” said the 39-year-old, “for a race to start in my home town to me is of great importance.”
Further information, including more details if the course, is expected in the coming weeks.