Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Rick Zabel – All Set For the Classics With BMC

-

HomeInterviewsRick Zabel - All Set For the Classics With BMC
Rick Zabel
Rick Zabel.

How do you get an interview with rising BMC Racing Team rider; Germany’s Rick Zabel?

We thought a good start would be not to ask any questions about his ‘D,A,D,’ – he’s his own man; but it helped too that Xylon Van Eyck of Corso Sports Marketing who now represent young Rick is a friend of ours and has helped us with many cool interviews in the past.

The German Junior Madison Championships came Zabel Junior’s way in 2009 with more track podiums at national junior level in 2010 in the points, team pursuit and madison.

There were a raft of strong junior road results in 2011 with a fifth place in the Junior Worlds as a high point.

His first year as a U23 in 2012 saw him lift the national U23 road race title for Rabobank Continental for whom he also won the U23 Ronde van Vlaanderen in 2013.

Last year saw him step up to the World Tour with BMC Racing Team and land a share of a win in the Tour of Trentino TTT.

Still only 21 years-old he took time to answer our questions as he steeled himself for a Northern Clasics campaign:

When did you first decide you wanted to be a pro, Rick?

“I was 16 years old, first year junior (U19), I did the world championships on the track in Montichiari, Italy and also my first international road races and did quite well.

“I started taking it all more serious to be even better in my second year juniors and my dream was then to become a pro.”

You were originally a track rider – when and why change?

“I was not a specifically just a track rider.

“I did road and track cycling but first I had more success on the track which I guess is why people thought I’d focused on the track alone.

“I was in the track national team, I did two times the track worlds as a junior, and I really liked it but when I became good on the road as well in my second year juniors I decided to concentrate more on the road for the U23 ranks because my dream was to become a professional.”

How did you get the Rabo ride?

“When I was second year junior I started to look out for a good U23 team.

“I got contact details for Piet Kuijs (he was a Rabo-DS) and contacted him.

“He said they would follow my results and then; ‘we will see.’

“Luckily I had a good year so they took me.

“That was my big goal because at the time, Rabo was the best U23 team in the world.”

Tell us a little about your time at Rabo.

“It was a really nice but also a hard time. I was one of two Germans in the team and all other riders were Dutch.

“So first I learned Dutch; that was really good so I could speak with everybody. They had good riders and everyone wanted to become a pro and wanted to be good. They also had a good race program.

“Everything was really professional, like a small pro-team.

“I had to learn a lot and it was not easy but I knew if I could make it here, I could make it anywhere.”

You won the U23 Flanders – you must look forward to riding the ‘big Ronde’ one day?

“Yes of course! It’s a really cool and legendary race!

“I’m proud that I’ve won the U23 version and to be good at the pro race as well is a dream of mine.”

How did the BMC Racing Team ride come about?

“After I won U23 Flanders a few teams were interested in me.

“Allan Peiper from BMC Racing Team visited me at home and we had a good talk.

“After meeting with him, I wanted to ride for BMC.”

Rick Zabel
Rick warms up at the USA Pro Challenge last year. Photo©Casey Gibson

Season 2014 and the World Tour; what was like it moving up from Continental and U23 – what’s the biggest difference?

“Of course, it´s hard.

“It´s faster, especially in the finals.

“Fighting for positioning is a lot harder because so many more riders are good at it.

“The races are much more structured and controlled, teamwork is much more important but to ride in the `champions league` is really cool.”

Alan Peiper – tell us about working with him, please?

“He’s a great man! I´m really happy that he’s with the BMC Racing Team.

“He has a lot of experience and is just a cool guy.

“He takes care of young riders like me but also in general of everybody in the team.

“You can always call him any time if you need to talk.

“He’s one of the best people I’ve met in cycling.”

Do you have a mentor at BMC?

“Mentor is a big word.

“I have a few people who look out for me but if I need to pick one it would be Allan.

“Working with him is really professional and cool!”

Who sets your training schedules ? are you ‘hi-tech’ or ‘old school’?

“Marco Pinotti; he’s a really good trainer – so I`m happy that he´s my trainer!

“I became good with typical old school German training so I like it and believe in it; but now with BMC Racing Team I do also a lot of hi-tech training stuff.

“So you can say I do a mix of both, I think that’s really good for me!”

Rick Zabel
Rick enjoys some downtime at the European U23 Road Champs. Photo©ROT

Where are you based – and why?

“I live in Unna, Germany; I was born and raised here.

“My family and friends are here and also it´s a good place to train.

“The weather is OK, not too much traffic and a few people around to train with; I can train on hilly or flat terrain but most of all, it´s my home.

“In winter I spend a lot of time in Mallorca.

“There’s good weather in winter and also a great place to be as a bike rider.”

Last year you rode Australia and Dubai, this year Dubai and Qatar – which did you prefer?

“It’s hard to compare.

“It depends which goals you have later in the season but I liked both; Australia and the Middle Eastern races, they are different but both are cool.”

Your second rides in Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne this year – are they races you think you can excel in, one day?

“I would like to.

“I’m working hard to be good there in the future; they’re nice races that I really like and believe will suit me!”

What would make 2015 a success for Rick Zabel?

“Riding a Monument such as Flanders or Roubaix.

“I would also like to do my first Grand Tour.

“In general I would like to ride the season at a constant high level and improve a lot from last year and to get results where I can.

“To win one race would be a dream. I know they’re high goals but I will give my best to reach them.”

Rick Zabel
Rick gets a hand from his dad, Erik. Photo©spa

Who is his dad, anyway?

With thanks to again to Rick, Xylon and to Sean Weisse at BMC Racing Team for their cooperation and patience.

Ed Hood
Ed Hood
Ed was involved in cycling for over 50 years. In that time he was a successful time triallist, a team manager and a sponsor of several teams and clubs. He was also a respected and successful coach and during the winter months often worked in the cabins at the Six Days for some of the world's top riders. Ed was a highly respected journalist, his tales of chasing the Giro, Tour, Vuelta, Classics and World Championships - and his much-loved winter Six Days - are legendary, never the same twice, they gave our site an edge other cycling media could never duplicate or challenge. Sadly Ed passed away in January 2025, two years after suffering a devastating stroke.

Related Articles

Laurens Ten Dam – “The Tour is the best”

He’s one of the men to thank/blame for the current plethora of facial hair in the pro peloton; add to that a dazzling array of pained expressions and you have one of the most photographed professionals around – Dutchman, Laurens Ten Dam (Belkin). The 33 year-old from Zuidwolde in Groningen has been on the scene for a long time but it’s only in the last few years he’s emerged as a man whose name is mentioned in connection with the GC of Grand Tours.

Callum Macleod – 2023? A Pro Contract else I start University

It was our mentor, Viktor who pointed out to us that Englishman, Callum Macleod had spent season 2022 with the Dutch ABLOC CT squad and that his contract is renewed for season 2023; of the 19 riders on the squad 16 are Dutch, there’s a Latvian, a Finn - and Callum.

Keith Lambert – Part Two; Team Management

A DS on the British race scene in the 80’s and 90’s? Easy life – cool team padded jacket, smart team car to drive, the soigneur prepares your packed lunch every day whilst the sponsors are throwing money at you... Well, maybe that last bit needs clarifying; Keith Lambert seemed like a good man to ask.

Michael Mørkøv – the World’s No.1 Lead-out Man

It has been said by many people that Michael Mørkøv is the best lead-out man in the peloton and if Mark Cavendish thinks so, then it must be true. Michael is back at Cav’s side to help him take his 35th, history making Tour de France stage win. We caught up with the flying Dane before he flew to the Tour Colombia.

At Random

Commonwealth Games 2014 – Track, Day Three

Australia had another great day at the Sir Chris Hoy velodrome, collecting another five medals to add to the previous two days haul of ten, putting them top of the cycling table with six more than any other country. For the second day in a row, the Men's Para Tandem provided one of the most memorable moments. This time it was the Sprint competition and again it was the Scottish pair of Neil Fachie and Craig MacLean, winning the final two-matches-to-one and celebrating with their families whilst the crowd joined in singing to them, who brought the proceedings to a halt.

Ribble Cycles Celebrates 125 Years

Founded in late 1897, Ribble Cycles are celebrating their 125th anniversary with the launch of a 125 Campaign and unveiling three signature 125 Anniversary Edition designs. 

Justice for Gary Wiggins

It’ll be nine years, this January since we ran our Gary Wiggins obituary. Wiggins, father of Knight of the Realm, current World Hour Record holder, reigning Olympic Team Pursuit Champion and former Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins, died in hospital in Newcastle, New South Wales the day after an ‘incident’ in Muswellbrook the previous day.

Endura Racing Team Launch 2009

Endura Racing Team launch... "Hi Ed, I've finally heard from Cycling Weekly - they want 300 words, but also if you want to do "Minute With" interviews with some of the riders, that'd be good also." Jeez! Work from "The Comic" and a brief too.