T-Mobile and Gerolsteiner for Tirreno-Adriatico

T-Mobile is pinning its hopes on Erik Zabel again for the upcoming Tirreno-Adriatico. The sprinter, who finished third overall last year and took the points jersey, will lead his team there again this year, as preparation for Milan-San Remo. "The race gives Erik the chance to put the finishing touches on his preparations for the Primavera in comfortable temperatures," said T-Mobile sports director Mario Kummer. "And if he happens to bring in a stage win while he's at it, we won't say no." T-Mobile's line-up includes Zabel's longstanding friend and roommate Rolf Aldag, who last year won the mountains classification.

Tour de France runner-up Andreas Klöden will also participate. "In the last few days Andreas has worked good and hard," said TMO trainer Thomas Schediwie. "That goes for Steffen Wesemann, too, who wants to be in top form in April for the Belgian Classics."

T-Mobile for Tirreno-Adriatico: Rolf Aldag, Matthias Kessler, Andreas Klier, Andreas Klöden, Jan Schaffrath, Stephan Schreck, Steffen Wesemann, and Erik Zabel.

The second German team, Gerolsteiner, is sending Danilo Hondo, Fabian Wegmann, Frank Hoj, Robert Förster, Sebastian Lang, Marcus Zberg, Volker Ordowski and Markus Fothen to the Italian stage race.

Courtesy of Susan Westemeyer