Erik Zabel: Yes, of course I doped... I hope the new generation learns from our mistakes

Erik Zabel was one of the best sprinters of the late 20th and early 21st century. He retired with 146 victories to his name, including 12 stages, 6 Tour de France regularity jerseys, 8 stages in the Vuelta a España, 4 Milan-San Remo, 3 Paris-Tours, 3 Eschborn-Frankfurt, the Amstel Gold Race and numerous stages in races such as the Tour de Suisse or Tirreno Adriatico.

In a conversation with Relevo colleagues, he recalled some of his former rivals such as Óscar Freire, Alejandro Valverde or Alessandro Petacchi; he talked about what the Vuelta a España meant to him and again acknowledged his doping and what he thinks of cycling today in those terms.

ÓSCAR FREIRE

He is my friend. We had good times together when we were competing. It is true that we were rivals, but there was always respect. Sometimes we had a few run-ins, but our fight was a sporting one. Later, when he left Rabobank to join Katusha, I trained him because I was on the coaching staff at the time.

ALEJANDRO VALVERDE

All my respect for Alejandro Valverde. The best of his generation from my point of view. One of the most professional cyclists, no doubt. A multifaceted giant.

ALESSANDRO PETACCHI

It's one of the moments I can't forget, how I lost there. Yes, I was focused on overtaking Petacchi a few meters from the finish line. When I did, I raised my arms to celebrate what I thought would be my victory. Suddenly Freire came from behind. I was in shock. He beat me; he was going very fast. It was a surprise, and as I say, I still remember it even though it's been almost twenty years. You know what's funny? Well, obviously he won, but there are people who have kept the image of my celebration and think that Oscar was second.

VUELTA A ESPAÑA

I'll explain it to you, because it's easy. At the beginning of each season in my team (Telekom) I always asked us which Grand Tour we wanted to race. Everybody wanted the Tour, a few wanted the Giro and almost nobody wanted the Vuelta because it was the last one, so it was a big effort. Also for the German journalists, who usually declined. It was perfect for me because there was no media pressure of any kind. If you lost, nothing happened because nobody cared, but if you won... I liked the Vuelta a lot, yes.

DOPING

Yes, of course I doped. Everything I said at the time is true. I did use doping substances, but that's in the past. Unfortunately it happened like that, but I hope that the new generation learns from our mistakes. Today I believe that cycling is clean. I hope so.

FRIENDS IN CYCLING

You know, no one ever asked me this question. When we were racing it was hard to have them, because there was tension, stress and competitiveness. We didn't talk much. Now everything is easier, because we are relaxed, and yes, old rivals are friends in some cases.

Article written by Juan Larra.