<h3>Zabel and Klöden make preliminary Worlds team for Germany</h3><p><i>By Susan Westemeyer</i>
</p><table align=\"left\"><caption class=\"small\" align=\"bottom\">Erik Zabel <br/>hoto ©: David Reinhardt</caption><tbody><tr><td><a href=\"http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2007/tour07/index.php?id=/photos/2007/tour07/openingceremony/2007-jul-06-tdf-opening-ceremony-010-crop\"><img title=\"(Click for larger image) \" height=\"100\" alt=\"(Click for larger image) \" hspace=\"5\" src=\"http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2007/tour07/openingceremony/2007-jul-06-tdf-opening-ceremony-010-croptn.jpg\" width=\"125\" border=\"0\"/>
</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Erik Zabel and Andreas Klöden have been named to the preliminary World Championship team, the German cycling federation announced Wednesday evening. The participation of both riders had been in question in light of Zabel\'s doping confession and the doping problems of Klöden\'s team, Team Astana. <a href=\"http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2007/aug07/aug15news\">Organizers had said</a> earlier this month they did not want Zabel to participate in the race. Zabel\'s team Milram <a href=\"http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2007/aug07/aug17news\">stood behind</a> the rider\'s participation and sent a letter on his behalf.</p><p>\"The presidium of the Bund Deutscher Radfahrer, after intensive discussion and consideration of not just athletic aspects, has agreed with a clear majority to nominate Erik Zabel. An important aspect was Erik Zabel\'s behavior following his doping confession,\" said BDR vice president Harald Pfab.</p><p>The BDR will name its final nominations for the men\'s races no later than September 18, for the U23 after the Tour de l\'Avenir (September 6-15) and for the women after the Rund um deie Nürnberger Altstadt World Cup Race on September 16.</p> |