Switzerland's Marcus Zberg is the new overall leader of the Tour de Suisse after finishing Wednesday's second stage in third place.

Zberg sprinted across the line just behind the stage winner, America's Fred Rdoriguez, and Germany's Sven Teutenberg. The 197-kilometre stretch between Uster and Rheinfelden is the longest on this year's tour.

For a long time it looked as if the German rider, Stephan Gottschling, would bring glory to Switzerland's Post Suisse team. At one stage, Gottschling was at the head of a breakaway pack with a seven and a half minute lead over the rest of the cyclists. But after racing through two steep climbs, the mountain specialist let the chasing pack close in. "I want to win the mountain jersey," Gottschling said later. "I had no thoughts about winning the stage."

Post Suisse's loss is Switzerland's gain. Marcus Zberg will now wear the leader's journey in Thursday's third stage from Rheinfelden to Fribourg. Gottschling will have his chance again on Friday as the riders head for the mountains of Verbier.

Tour schedule:

13th June Uster-Uster 24km (team time trials), Steffen Wesemann
14th June Uster-Rheinfelden 197 km, Fred Rodriguez
15th June Rheinfelden-Fribourg 182km
16th June Fribourg-Verbier 156km
17th June Sierre-Sierre 30km (individual time trials)
18th June Ulrichen-Ulrichen (Alpine stage)
19th June Locarno-Lugano 171km
20th June Locarno-La Punt 170km
21st June St.Moritz-Arosa 150km
22nd June Herisau-Baden 175km

swissinfo with agencies

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative