McEwen takes stage but Zabel leads

ERIK ZABEL bounced back from the disappointment of Monday's defeat on home soil to claim the Tour de France yellow jersey today.

The German, pipped by Oscar Freire in Saarbrucken, was out-muscled by Australian champion Robbie McEwen in Reims but gladly settled for a place at the top of the general classification. Another Aussie Baden Cooke, of Francaise des Jeux, took third.

It was a personal triumph for McEwen, matching his beating of Italian sprint-king Mario Cippolini in the Giro d'Italia. The Lotto rider, a serious points contender also led by Zabel is up to second overall.