Countryman Daniele Bennati was second ahead of Germany's Erik Zabel, earning a six-second time bonus in the process.

BBC: SPORT | Other Sport... | Cycling | Solo break nets win for Contrini

But McEwen seems to revel in his solo sprinting, catching onto the Telekom train of Erik Zabel and pouncing when the time is right.

BBC: Lotto-Domo

Winning upset the established order of Erik Zabel, Robbie McEwen and Stuart O'Grady, who had been tipped to battle it out for the points prize.

BBC: SPORT | Other Sport... | Cycling | Baden Cooke

Erik Zabel has been named captain of cycling's Team Telekom for their first year without former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich, now with Team Coast.

BBC: Italian cyclist Mario Cipollini

Once again the team will be doubling up in their glory bids, with German sprinter Erik Zabel aiming to win back his green jersey off Robbie McEwen.

BBC: Telekom

The usual stalwart of the green jersey, Erik Zabel, looks to have passed his peak, while O'Grady's countryman and the defending champion of the jersey, Robbie McEwen, has been struggling with injuries early this season.

BBC: Credit Agricole