Eisel looking to the Tour?

By Susan Westemeyer

Bernhard Eisel agreed early to change over to T-Mobile Team for the coming season, reaching a verbal agreement with team manager Olaf Ludwig. Then suddenly, Ludwig was on his way out of the team management, but fortunately his successor, Rolf Aldag, agreed to accept the agreement, for which Eiesel was very appreciative. "They didn't have to do that."

The "new" new team offers him an unexpected opportunity, the Austrian sprinter told www.t-mobile-team.com. "We don't have any big heroes on the team, but we have lots of young riders who can and will provide surprises. I see it as an advantage that no big names are in the way. Plus that means that there are now places free on the Tour team!" he laughed. With the Ludwig team, "I had never speculated on a Tour start. But now the chances are not bad at all."

Eisel also noted that the warm European fall has turned his training plans upside down. "I had actually planned not to be so much in the saddle this winter and to bring myself in form with cross country skiing and ski tours." But the lack of snow put an end to that, even when it is now finally getting colder. "It's too risky to start skiing at this late time in my preparations. The body shouldn't get used to other sports. There's not enough time left."

He had a welcome change in his preparations when he recently spent ten days on Lanzarote with 14 teammates. "We didn't just ride our bikes, but also played football and badminton. That was a welcome change and was also very important to building the team feeling."