Zabel will end career at Berlin Six-Days

Erik Zabel will likely end his career in Berlin, Germany, at the Six-Day race from January 22 to 27. Zabel announced during the World Championships that he will call it quits after 16 years in the pro peloton.

Zabel told the Berliner Zeitung that he was happy to be able to race in the German capital. "After retiring from road racing I will still do the six-day races. Because Berlin is the last German race, I can finally participate in the Velodrom [name of the stadium where the race takes place - ed.]"

Historically the race in Berlin was always too late for Zabel to participate, as he was busy preparing the road racing season. The enormous efforts by the organisers Heinz Seesing to sign Zabel up over the years were finally rewarded. "This time it is perfect. With our sports manager Dieter Stein we will now start the negotiations with Erik Zabel. I am sure we will reach agreement with everything. We will give him a big stage."