Milram manager angry at Zabel

By Susan Westemeyer

Team Milram's Business Manager Gerry van Gerwen is not happy with Erik Zabel, following the sprinter's doping confession at a press conference held by his former team, T-Mobile, and has questioned Zabel's future with the Italian-German team.

"What is Zabel doing at a T-Mobile function?" he said in the German tabloid BILD. "Erik is our employee, but he makes his confession at T-Mobile." The Dutchman complained to T-Mobile team manager Bob Stapleton. "I told him that wasn't right. Zabel still has two years on his contract with us. T-Mobile should have informed us."

Team Milram confirmed van Gerwen's remarks to Cyclingnews.

He was also angry at how he heard about another one of Zabel's decisions. "I read in the newspaper that Zabel will not participate in the 2008 Olympics. When Erik voluntarily does that, then I, as his boss, want to know that before everyone else."

The business manager said that there would be some sort of punishment for Zabel from the team, possibly including an early end to his contract, which runs for another season. "He will ride the Tour de France and then he will ride the season until the end. Then we will see how things go on with him."