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Förster nabs German Tour opener

By Agence France Presse
Published: Aug. 10, 2007
Förster gets the win
Förster gets the win
Photo: AFP

German cyclist Robert Förster was delighted to give his Gerolsteiner team a winning start to the Tour of Germany when he won the opening stage in Saarbrücken Friday.

The 29-year-old Förster won the 183.7km stage in a time of 4:24:16, finishing a field sprint ahead of Danilo Napolitano (Lampre-Fondital) and Milram’s Erik Zabel. Förster will wear the yellow jersey for Saturday's 42.2kms team time trial in Bretten.

"This is an important win for us as a team," said Foerster after picking up his first stage win of the German tour. "Everything ran smoothly, the team rode strongly to help me. As a German in a German team to win in Germany, it means an awful lot to me."

Förster can expect stiff competition over the next few days from veteran Zabel, 37, who has won a record 12-stages on the tour.

For most of the race, a break away group of Slovenian Matej Muggerli (Liquigas), Dutchman Maarten der Bakker (Skil-Shimano) and Austrian Philipp Ludescher (Volksbank) had opened up a big lead until they were caught with 10km to go.

German veteran and 2006 Tour of Germany winner Jens Voigt is amongst the favorites to take the overall title.