Zabel zooms to Basel stage win
The Tour de Suisse may have left Germany behind but German sprint specialist Erik Zabel showed no signs of homesickness on Wednesday as he dashed to a stage victory in Basel.
Zabel crossed the finish line just millimetres ahead of Italy’s Paolo Bettini and Lithuania’s Saulius Ruskys, in a closing sprint that ended hopes of a home victory for Swiss rider Lukas Zumsteg.
In an impressive breakaway with Australia’s Jason Phillips, the canton Argau cyclist led Wednesday’s second stage for some 125 kilometres, crossing the Swiss border at Rheinfelden in first place before finally being overtaken with just six kilometres to go.
“I wanted to be in front in Rheinfelden, close to my home,” Zumsteg said afterwards. “I really believed for a long time that I could win the stage.”
Although denied the glory of a stage victory, Zumsteg will have the compensation of wearing the mountain leader’s jersey on Thursday, his 29th birthday, since his lengthy spell at the front of the peloton included two minor climbs.
American superstar Lance Armstrong had no difficulty keeping pace with the pack on Wednesday and will again wear the overall leader’s yellow jersey for Thursday’s third stage from Basel to Baar.
swissinfo with agencies
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