Adjust font size:
    LUCERNE, Switzerland -- Disgraced German cyclist Erik Zabel, who recently admitted he took EPO (erythropoietin) in 1996, won the 157 kilometers second stage of the Tour of Switzerland in Lucerne on Sunday. The 36-year-old six-time Tour de France green jersey winner edged out Italy's Daniele Bennati and Saturday's stage winner Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland. Cancellara leads the overall standings, leading Bennati by seven seconds with Frenchman William Bonnet 16 seconds adrift. Zabel announced earlier this month that he would not compete in the Beijing Olympics next year after meeting the president of the German Olympic committee (DOSB), Thomas Bach, and DOSB general secretary Michael Vesper in Frankfurt. Zabel - whose present team Milram decided not to terminate his contract last week - is one of seven ex-Telekom cyclists including 1996 Tour winner Bjarne Riis who admitted they took EPO. The German, fourth in the road race at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, will soon discover whether the German Cycling Confederation will allow him to compete in September's cycling World Cup in Stuttgart. Monday's stage is the longest of the race, 228.7km from Brunnen to Nauders in Austria taking in two significant climbs - Col de la Fluela (2,383 metres) and the Cote de Norbertshohe (1,406m). |
Get up-to-the minute news from CNNCNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more. |
Zabel is waiting to hear if he will be allowed to compete in the World Cup.
| © 2007 Cable News Network. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Read our privacy guidelines. Contact us. Site Map. |
 |
|
External sites open in new window; not endorsed by CNN.com
Pay service with live and archived video.