World championship silver medalist Erik Zabel (Milram) won the third stage on the Tour of Germany Sunday in Offenburg while defending champion Jens Voigt (CSC) retained the yellow jersey.

Zabel, 37, proved quickest over the 181.8km course between Pforzheim through the stunning Black Forest to Offenburg to claim the 13th tour win of his career.

Zabel sealed the victory in a tight sprint, winning in a time of 4 hours, 49 minutes and 25 seconds to finish just ahead of Spaniard Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Caisse d'Epargne) and Australian Bradley McGee (Française des Jeux).

Defending champion Voigt holds the leader's jersey going into Monday's fourth stage, which starts the climb into the German Alps.

"I love this tour, I am going to give everything to keep this jersey," said Voigt, the CSC captain.

"I have got some time under my belt, so I don't have to attack the mountains with the first group because I have a bit of an advantage.”

Voigt has a 27-second lead over Discovery Channel's Levi Leipheimer.

Tour of Germany
Stage 3
1. Erik Zabel (G) Milram, 4:49:25
2. Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne, s.t.
3. Bradley McGee (Aus), Française des Jeux, s.t.
4. Manuele Mori (I), Saunier Duval, s.t.
5. Patrick Calcagni (I), Liquigas, s.t.
6. Rene Weissinger (G), Volksbank, s.t.
7. Bjorn Leukemans (B), Predictor-Lotto, s.t.
8. Gerald Ciolek (G), T-Mobile s.t.
9. Rene Mandri (G), Ag2r, s.t.
10. Martin Elmiger (Swi), Ag2r, s.t.

Overall
1. Jens Voigt (G), CSC, 10:05:20
2. Bobby Julich (USA), CSC, same time
3. Alexandr Kolobnew (Rus), CSC, s.t.
4. Andy Schleck (Lux), CSC, s.t.
5. Chris Sorensen (Den), CSC, s.t.
6. Volodymir Gustov (Ukr), CSC, s.t.
7. George Hincapie (USA), Discovery Channel, at 0:27
8. Jurgen van Goolen (B) Discovery Channel), s.t