PLUMELEC, France -- Germany's Erik Zabel snatched victory in an uphill sprint finish as Swiss veteran Tony Rominger crashed out in the third stage of his last Tour de France on Tuesday.

Zabel, breaking Mario Cipollini's run of stage successes, also closed to within 14 seconds of the Italian's overall lead after beating off the challenge of Belgian Franck Vandenbroucke.

Last year's Tour winner Bjarne Riis of Denmark was third in the 140-mile stage from Vire.

CIPOLLINI RETAINED THE YELLOW JERSEY for a third day after finishing 11 seconds behind Zabel, but after coming in 25th he is only 14 seconds ahead of the German.

Britain's Chris Boardman, who wore the yellow jersey for 24 hours after winning Saturday's prologue, is third overall, 27 seconds in arrears.

For the Berlin-born Zabel, winner of the Milan-San Remo classic in March, it was rapid revenge in a stage that ended with a 2,000-meter uphill stretch unsuited to the big Cipollini's forceful style on the flat.

ON MONDAY, ZABEL WAS WITHIN 50 meters of victory at Vire when Cipollini spoiled his birthday by shooting past for his second victory in as many days.

"This far, I was having a rather strange Tour because last year I managed to win in the sprints," said Zabel, winner of two stages and the points leader's green jersey last year. "Then (in 1996) I was a regular in the honors. But, today we put things back in their place.

"Cipollini handled the first two sprints better and with this uphill finish you had to be very strong," he added.

ZABEL'S JOY AS HE TOOK the podium with his little son to celebrate victory was in marked contrast to the sad fate of Rominger.

Rominger, suffering the same ill fortune as compatriot Alex Zuelle in the Tour of Switzerland, was taken to hospital in Vannes with a fracture of the right collarbone after a mass pile-up in the last 6 miles.

The first escape in the stage came when 16 riders broke free after nearly 10 miles.

At about 55 miles, four of the riders -- Italy's Gianluca Bortolami, Dutchman Danny Nelissen, Orlando Rodrigues of Portugal and Frenchman Francois Simon -- broke away and were, at one point, three minutes ahead of the chasing group.

The quartet were caught, however, about 15 miles from the finish.

SPANIARD ABRAHAM OLANO, A PRE-TOUR FAVORITE to reclaim for his country the mantle of five-time winner Miguel Indurain, was sixth in the stage and is sixth overall 37 seconds behind Cipollini.

"We are without Miguel, but I hope we are at the start of a new era which will be as good as that of Miguel," the Banesto team leader said.

The Tour leaves Britanny on Wednesday's 140-mile fourth stage to Puy-du-Fou in the Vendee region, which will also be dominated by the sprint merchants.

The riders will reach the finish line along the Champs Elysees in Paris on July 27.

Stages of the Tour de France

Tour de France teams