Rund um Köln
April 14, 2006 by admin
Filed under Whats on in Bonn

In Cologne Easter Monday doesn’t mean bunnies, it means cyclists, as top riders slog it out in Germany’s oldest cycle race ‘Rund um Köln’. The elite racers will arrive in the City at around for three laps of the Centre before finishing on the Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer in front of the DEVK building (nr U-Bahn Zoo/Florastrasse). An Everymans Race will fill in the time waiting for Erik Zabel and co. and music courtesy of the musical ‘Killer Queen’ is also on the agenda…
Although ‘Rund um Köln’ has been running,with a few exceptions, every year since a local man Fritz Tacke rolled over the finish line in 1908. When Artur Tabat took over the organizing in 1972 things were bleak – a finish line inside the City itself was ruled out.
Now 64, Tabat cites the 2003 win by Jan Ullrich as his most memorable moment. This was Ullrich riding for newcomers
This year Jan Ullrich is injured but there should still be some excitement in the Rhineside air. Favourite will be former Telekom/T-Mobile star Erik Zabel – now riding for Team Milram. Also riding for Milram should be fastest sprinter in the world today Alessandro Petacchi. Will the Italian ride to help the German?
Also possible is the return of german Danilo Hondo to cycle racing for the first time. Hondo was banned after failing a drugs test but has finally been re-instated after an appeal. He still can’t ride for a top Pro team because of the incident but will want to show he is still one of the best in the world – perhaps another Ullrich style rebirth is on the cards? Or maybe last years winner and a local boy David Kopp can triumph again. Kopp was a top prospect as a youngster with Telekom but moved on.
Which brings us to T-Mobile themselves. For several years it was a case of who will win from Team Telekom as Heppner, Wesemann, and Italian Gianni Fagnini chalked up wins for the magenta men. This years magenta team looks lack-lustre in comparison to years gone by but maybe Andre Greipel , who lives in Hürth, can spring a surprise on his doorstep. Or imagine this for a surprise: Victory by an old adversary of Jan Ullrich, Joseba Beloki. Nobody who winced at the shattered body of Beloki being stretchered out of the Tour de France a few years ago would begrudge the Spaniard a win by the Rhine.
Take a raincoat, plenty of patience and enjoy the atmosphere – maybe even see a fairytale ending…
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