TOUR DE FRANCE : Zabel Captures Another Stage, but Indurain Stays in Charge

Erik Zabel of Germany won his second stage of the Tour de France, beating Djamolidine Abdoujaparov of Uzbekistan in a final sprint Thursday while Miguel Indurain moved closer to another championship.

Indurain stayed in the overall lead, finishing in the pack of the 17th stage. He holds a 2-minute 46-second margin over Alex Zulle of Switzerland.

The Tour ends Sunday with the Spaniard virtually assured of his fifth consecutive title.

Zabel, 25, had won the sixth stage, from Dunkerque to Charleroi, Belgium.

The riders still had thoughts of Fabio Casartelli, who died in a crash in Tuesday’s 15th stage in the Pyrenees. The entire pack gave up Wednesday’s stage to Casartelli’s Motorola teammates in an emotional gesture.

Casartelli’s widow sent a message of appreciation to the Tour de France through Andrea Peron, his Motorola roommate.

Thursday’s stage, from Pau to Bordeaux, was marked by a long breakaway by France’s Thierry Marie, who was finally caught with about six miles left in the 153-mile leg of mostly flatlands.

A 103-mile flat stage will be held today from Montpon-Menesterol to Limoges.