It appears as though loyalty cost Milram victory in yesterday's Rund um den Henninger Turm, with team manager Gerry van Gerwen questioning the tactics employed by Alessandro Petacchi and Erik Zabel in the finale. Petacchi, who showed great speed in the closing stages, led out his veteran teammate, but 'Ete' couldn't convert that work to a win, something which would have undoubtedly disappointed team management.
"Did we have to be well so loyal?" asked van Gerwen out loud after the finish, adding, "Zabel missed the power [to win today] or maybe the others were just better - it depends how you look at it." No prizes for guessing, then, that Milram will be looking to make amends when Petacchi lines up for this month's Giro d'Italia - the Italian sprinter has an impeccable record at the race, and will feature in the sprint finishes again in this year's edition.
