Petacchi to Niedersachsen

By Susan Westemeyer

Alessandro Petacchi won all five stages of the Niedersachsen Rundfahrt last year, will be looking to repeat his success at the end of April, in the race now called the Lotto Rundfahrt. "The team's management gave us a verbal agreement," said race director Otto Pätzold.

He further hopes that Team Milram will also send Erik Zabel. "There are indications that Milram wants to start with its double prong," Pätzold told the press agency dpa. They may meet one of the rising young sprint stars there, as 20 year-old Gerald Ciolek of T-Mobile Team will apparently also start.

The Lotto Rundfahrt runs April 25 to 29, and covers 900 kilometres through Lower Saxony, Germany.