Erik Zabel: Disc brakes can be the difference between winning and losing

19 February 2019 02:25
Disc brakes can make the difference between winning and losing, according to Erik Zabel, and the German is doing his best to make sure that Katusha-Alpecin is on the winning side. Zabel joined the team as their performance manager over the winter, having previously worked with them as a sprint coach before he was suspended after he confessed to doping during his career. With disc brakes, a rider can brake both easier and later. Rim brakes require the use of the full hand, he said, and disc brakes only one finger, which is also an advantage in a dangerous situation. Being able to slow down later, allows a rider to hold their speed longer. "If you can brake later, you can have an advantage of a few hundredths of a second. In the end, that makes the difference," Zabel said in an interview with Radsport-News.com. ADVERTISEMENT The German knows how to win a sprint, having brought in more than 150 pro wins in his 16-year career. Now at Katusha-Alpecin – where his son Rick is now a sprinter – Zabel convinced the team to convert to disc brakes. The use of disc brakes is "an ongoing process," he said. "But you don't have to be a prophet to see that in three to five years only disc brakes will be used." In comparison to rim brakes, the discs are "naturally better," he said. “It wasn't easy to convince everyone to go this way. But I believe that it is an advantage to master the techniques before everyone uses it.” You can read more at Cyclingnews.com.read full article

Source: Cycling News