Confession appears to have its rewards. Milram's Erik Zabel, who three weeks earlier admitted to using EPO, says he's a man reborn, and on Sunday in Lucerne, the 36-year-old used his newfound spiritual freedom to win the opening road stage of the Tour de Suisse.

It was a perfect throw of the bike by the veteran Zabel, who just pipped Lampre-Fondital's Daniele Bennati at the line, surprisingly followed by race leader Fabian Cancellara (CSC). The maillot jaune and local hero was given a superb lead-out by his Australian teammate and friend Stuart O'Grady, who finished fourth, and if the finish had been 100 meters farther down the road, Cancellara says it may have been an even better story.

"The conditions in the finale were in my favor: it was slightly uphill, and into a headwind," Zabel recalled of his third season win, which, rather interestingly, all came after his doping confession on May 24.

"The days before the confession, I had the feeling I was one step away from hell," he continued. "I had the experience of falling into an abyss, and forever losing ground. And for two or three days after my confession, I felt very empty, totally destroyed.

"Then I got back on the bike, and I experienced happiness ... I felt a new joy, I felt a different man. I realized that cycling is still important, but in a human's life, there are other things that are much more important."

Despite a number of breakaway attempts, first by Team Volksbank's Pascal Hungerbühler, then by a group of three on the penultimate climb to Rengg, the peloton arrived at the finish en masse. However, a final-corner crash almost spoiled the sprinters' party, but the race's fastest men were all up front, and it did not affect the final outcome.

Zabel added that despite his confession, or perhaps because of it, his chances of riding the Tour de France are good: "It seems there are positive signs for the Tour from [Christian] Prudhomme and [Pat] McQuaid, that Erik Zabel should ride the Tour de France," he said, speaking in the third person.

"[Milram general manager] Gianluigi Stanga told me I've made one step with my confession - but I also have to take the second step, and that is to continue [racing]."

Not in the mood
With no abandons after the previous day's prologue, 166 riders left Olten Sunday afternoon. Conditions were similar to those of Saturday, with the sun shining, moderate temperatures and a light breeze.

At first, as the peloton headed northeast to Aarau, it appeared no-one was in the mood to race. Cancellara’s CSC team was happy to set the pace at the head of affairs, with Astana and T-Mobile also coming to the fore an hour or so later.

Status quo remained after the second hour, and in view of the number of toilet breaks taken, more action was happening at the side of the road than on it. Then finally, after 75km, Hungerbühler took his chances into the wide-open space ahead of him.

At Beromünster, 20km down the road, the Swiss-German reached his maximum advantage of 4:22. However, the sprinters' teams were not willing to allow any more than that, limiting Hungerbühler's advantage to less than three minutes.

Twenty kilometers from the finish in Luzern, a reaction on the Category 3 climb to Rengg set the peloton alight, and by the summit, Hungerbühler had been caught but Unibet's Matteo Carrara was away, with Quick Step's Carlos Barredo and Volksbank's Florian Stadler in hot pursuit.

On the descent, Barredo and Stadler bridged the gap, and the three began their own team time trial in the small hope of victory. However, with a pack full of speedsters itching for a win, the peloton wasn't letting anything stay away, and with 5km remaining, it was all together again.

It was a nerve-wracking finale right till the last corner, when a touch of wheels saw at least 10 men hit the deck. Luckily, the sprinters were already in position, and with 200 meters to go, Bennati let loose down the right-hand side.

It was a long way out, but the Italian almost looked strong enough before Zabel - an old hand who knows starting a little early all too well - got the better of him right on the line, a perfect throw of the bike guaranteeing his place at the top of the podium. Bennati held on for second, while Cancellara found a great lead-out from O'Grady to finish third.

The road ahead
Day 3 at the Tour de Suisse already means mountains, and Cancellara knows his time in the maillot jaune will be for no more than 24 hours.

The hors catégorie Flüelapass, with its summit 60km from the finish, will certainly break the peloton's back, but it's the Category 3 rise to the finish in Nauders that is certain to decide Monday's victor. Should a small group finish together, the 2km descent before the line will favor those with enough kick in their legs to sprint for the win.

"I will never be a climber, and I will climb the Flüelapass at my own rhythm," said Cancellara. "I already had the impression on the third-category climb today that Damiano Cunego had ants in his pants!

"I know I won't be able to stay with the climbers, so this [yellow] jersey won't be with me at the end of tomorrow.”

Tour du Suisse — Stage 2
1. Erik Zabel (Ger), Milram, 4:04:56
2. Daniele Bennati (I), Lampre, same time
3. Fabian Cancellara (Swi), CSC, s.t.
4. Stuart O'Grady (Aus), CSC, s.t.
5. Antonio Fischer Murilo (Bra), Liquigas, s.t.
6. Robbie McEwen (Aus), Predictor-Lotto, s.t.
7. William Bonnet (F), Crédit Agricole, s.t.
8. Marcus Burghardt (G), T-Mobile, s.t.
9. Alberto Ongarato (I), Milram, s.t.
10. Patrick Calcagni (Swi), Liquigas, s.t.

Overall
1. Fabian Cancellara (Swi), CSC, 4:09:10
2. Daniele Bennati (I), Lampre, at 0:07
3. Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne, at 0:15
4. William Bonnet (F), Credit Agricole, at 0:16
5. Stuart O'Grady (Aus), CSC, same time
6. Vladimr Gusev (Rus), Discovery Channel, s.t.
7. Martin Elmiger (Swi), Ag2r Prevoyance, at 0:17
8. Benoit Vaugrenard (F), Francaise des Jeux, at 0:18
9. Stefan Schumacher (G), Gerolsteiner, s.t.
10. Erik Zabel (B), Milram, s.t.