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CBS SportsLine staff and wires July 11, 1997 MARENNES, France -- Germany's Erik Zabel thought he had won Friday's sixth stage of the Tour de France, cycling's most prestigious race, but he was disqualified for what race officials called "irregular sprinting." Zabel, the third stage winner, had defeated Jeroen Blijlevens of the Netherlands in a sprint finish, but after officials reviewed a video of the finish, it was determined that Zabel was riding dangerously and the victory was awarded to Blijlevens. Zabel was put in last place. FRENCHMAN CEDRIC VASSEUR, WHO WON Thursday's fifth stage, retained the overall leader's yellow jersey. Two other incidents marred the 134-mile trek from Le Blanc to Marennes. The riders had to take a three-mile detour early in the stage to avoid a nuclear waste storage demonstration. In addition, Tom Steels of Belgium was expelled from the race after throwing a plastic bottle at Frenchman Frederic Moncassin during the sprint finish. The day's third-place finisher, Lotto's Djamolidin Abdoujaparov was thrown out of the race after he failed his anti-doping test. On Saturday, the cyclists will embark on a 118-mile jaunt from Marennes to Bordeaux. The riders will reach the finish line along the Champs Elysees in Paris on July 27.
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Complete coverage of the Tour de France Rominger to undergo collarbone surgery in Switzerland
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