LUCERNE, Switzerland (AFP) - Disgraced German cyclist Erik Zabel, who recently admitted he took EPO (erythropoietin) in 1996, won the 157 kilometres second stage of the Tour of Switzerland here on Sunday.

The 36-year-old six-time Tour de France green jersey winner edged out Italy's Daniele Bennati and Saturday's stage winner Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland.

Cancellara leads the overall standings, leading Bennati by seven seconds with Frenchman William Bonnet 16 seconds adrift.

Zabel announced earlier this month that he would not compete in the Beijing Olympics next year met after meeting with the president of the German Olympic committee (DOSB), Thomas Bach, and DOSB general secretary Michael Vesper in Frankfurt.

Zabel - whose present team Milram decided not to terminate his contract last week - is one of seven ex-Telekom cyclists including 1996 Tour winner Bjarne Riis who admitted they took EPO.

The German, fourth in the road race at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, will soon discover whether the German Cycling Confederation will allow him to compete in September's cycling World Cup in Stuttgart.

Monday's stage is the longest of the race, 228.7km from Brunnen to Nauders in Austria taking in two significant climbs - Col de la Fluela (2,383 metres) and the Cote de Norbertshohe (1,406m).