Milram and Rabobank for Paris-Tours

For Erik Zabel's farewell race in Paris-Tours this week-end, his Team Milram has announced that the German will be supported by fellow countrymen Enrico Poitschke and Sebastian Schwager, Australian Brett Lancaster, Slovak Martin Velits, Ukrainian Andrey Grivko and the two Italians Fabio Sabatini and Marco Velo. The 38 year-old will try to crown his long and successful career with a fourth – and historic – win of the Autumn Classic before retiring from pro cycling.

Rabobank, on the other hand, has had to announce a change to its line-up for Paris-Tours, as Bram Tankink will have to miss the event. A rib injury suffered in the Circuit Franco-Belge last weekend has put an end to his season.

X-rays showed that the 29 year-old had not broken a rib, but that it is severely bruised and is still causing a lot of pain. Tankink will be replaced in the race by Marc de Maar.

Rabobank's line-up for the race is Jos van Emden, Juan Antonio Flecha, Rick Flens, Oscar Freire, Pedro Horrillo, Bram de Groot, Gerben Löwik and Marc de Maar.