Fabio Sabatini and Michael Mørkøv are both experienced riders when it comes to perfecting a lead out. They are currently the final two men in the train for Deceuninck-QuickStep's Elia Viviani, one of the best sprinters on the planet.
Sabatini has ridden as a lead-out man for many successful sprinters such as Erik Zabel and Alessandro Pettachi, while Mørkøv comes from a track background after winning silver in the Team Pursuit at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. They are experience personified, having competed in a combined number of 29 Grand Tours, and they are two of the most seasoned riders in the peloton.
In a traditional lead out for Viviani, Sabatini is sheltered by Mørkøv until the final 400-500m before he's handed the reins for the final burst before Viviani is left on his own to finish the job. Last season, Viviani picked up 18 victories during the road season with the help of Sabatini and Mørkøv, and during January's Tour Down Under, the pair took the time to give Cyclingnews an insight into what makes the perfect lead out.
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Cyclingnews: Fabio, when you started your career was it always with the intention of becoming a lead-out rider?
Fabio Sabatini: I started with Alessandro Petacchi and Erik Zabel at Milram in 2006, where the training was really different because the team was completely for Petacchi so my work and that of my teammates was all about working towards the lead-out. Like I said, we had Zabel but also riders like Fabio Sacchi, so I learned a lot from them, and of course from Alessandro.
CN: Michael, who did you learn from the early years of your career because you came through the ranks with a slightly different set-up?
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/morkov-and-sabatini-the-art-of-the-lead-out
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