BBC SPORT | TOUR DE FRANCE | Zabel's sprint masterclass

Deutsche Telekom's Erik Zabel outsprinted his rivals once more to claim the third stage of the 2001 Tour de France in Seraing, Belgium.

Zabel's team-mates controlled the final part of the stage to get their sprinter into a perfect position to claim his tenth Tour stage win.

The German rider also won the first stage on Sunday.

Belgian rider Marc Wauters lost the yellow jersey he won in Antwerp on Monday, as Australia's Stuart O'Grady finished in the leading pack to take first place overall.

It was a very important victory for me, and for Telekom - there's a good atmosphere in the team

Erik Zabel

Wauters was dropped on the Mont Thieux climb, but O'Grady's 31st-placed finish on the final sprint was enough to give him the yellow jersey and make up for his disappointment at missing out on Monday.

Zabel was visibly delighted as he crossed the line, in marked contrast to his reaction on winning Sunday's first stage in Boulogne-sur-Mer.

There he simply rode over the line, and later complained of being left alone for his team's sprinting duties this year.

However, Zabel, who has won the green jersey for the leading points scorer for the past five years, said he was happy both for himself and his team this time round.

"It was a very important victory for me, and for Telekom," he said shortly after crossing the line.

Lance Armstrong

Armstrong looks in impressive form

Asked about a reported rift between him and his teammate and compatriot Jan Ullrich, Zabel said: "Those reports aren't true, there are no problems, there's a good atmosphere in the team."

Among the riders who were left in Zabel's wake was reigning champion Lance Armstrong.

The two-time Tour winner led briefly in the uphill sprint to the finish but crossed the line 10th to climb to seventh place in the overall standings.

Ullrich, the 1997 Tour winner, was also near the front of the field, finishing in 13th.

The race continues on Wednesday with the 215km fourth stage from Huy to Verdun.

Stage 3, Antwerp-Seraing (198.5km):

1. Erik Zabel (Ger/TEL) 4hr 35 min 17sec
2. Emmanuel Magnien (Fra/FDJ) same time
3. Stefano Garzelli (Ita/MAP) s/t
4. Fabio Baldato (Ita/FAS) s/t
5. Francois Simon (Fra/BJR) s/t
6. Guennadi Mikhailov (Rus/LOT) s/t
7. Christophe Capelle (Fra/BIG) s/t
8. Franck Bouyer (Fra/BJR) s/t
9. Serge Baguet (Bel/LOT) s/t
10. Lance Armstrong (USA/USP)

Overall classification after stage 3:

1. Stuart O'Grady (Aus/C.A) 14hr 15min 44sec
2. Christophe Moreau (Fra/FES) at 00:17sec
3. Rik Verbrugghe (Bel/LOT) 00:18
4. Jens Voigt (Ger/C.A) 00:20
5. Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa/ONC) 00:20
6. Bobby Julich (USA/C.A) 00:21
7. Lance Armstrong (USA/USP) 00:21
8. Erik Zabel (Ger/TEL) 00:23
9. Jan Ullrich (Ger/TEL) 00:24
10. Florent Brard (Fra/FES) 00:24


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