Sinkewitz nearly missed his own victory

By Katharina Schulz

As Patrik Sinkewitz rolled across the finish line at yesterday's Rund um den Henninger Turm as the winner, there was none of the usual cheering. It looked like he hadn't even realised he had won the race. As it turns out, he really didn't know. "At first I wasn't sure whether I had another lap to go, but then our physiotherapist called me to a halt," Sinkewitz told t-mobile-team.com.

Last year, Sinkewitz was at the front of the race for a very long time together with CSC-rider Jens Voigt, but they were caught on the final laps through Frankfurt's city centre. "After having been caught at the end of the race last year, this victory makes me very happy," 'Sinke' said.

Sinkewitz, who comes from the town of Fulda, which lies in the region, was especially motivated. "I just feel great. This is my home race, which I really wanted to win one day, and now I've done it. I wasn't very successful this year in the Spring Classics, but this is a very good conclusion for the spring season, which makes me even happier," the winner of the 2004 Deutschland Tour stated.

T-Mobile had originally thought that no group without a rider from Milram or Gerolsteiner would be allowed to get a substantial lead. "But this was not the case, and on the final kilometres I knew that my only chance was to attack."

Sinkewitz will now take a short break and return for the Bayern-Rundfahrt which takes place from May 30 till June 3.