Zabel to decide about retirement post-Tour

At his team's Tour de France presentation Wednesday, Milram's Erik Zabel announced that he will soon decide about whether to continue his career into 2009. His contract with Milram is set to expire in December.

"I want to concentrate on the Tour de France and after, in August, I will make my decision," said the 37 year-old German according to the AFP. He will be contesting his 14th Tour de France, where he will contend for the green sprinter leader's jersey and stage wins. He'll celebrate his 38th birthday during the July 7th stage of the Tour.

The sprinter said he is not having any trouble with motivation now. "But it may be in the first bad hotel or during the first rainy stage that I ask myself why I'm not already done."

Zabel has won the green jersey six times during his career, from 1996 to 2001. He finished second place at the World Championships in 2004 and 2006. His career continued even after admitting in the spring of 2007 to doping while racing under the team Deutsche Telekom. in 1996.