2008 Tour de Suisse (Tour of Switzerland)
Route Map, Stage Details, Teams, TV Schedule, Live Updates, Results, Photos and Video
Thanks to his outstanding Stage 8 Klausenpass time-trial, Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) has won the 2008 Tour de Suisse. photo: Edward Madden (see the full-size image) |
This year's race includes a 25km ITT up the Klausenpass. photo courtesy: Matthew Kelly |
Route Map | Preview | Live Coverage | Team Rosters | Stage Details
|
|
June 25 update: Versus Stage 1 Highlights (
), Stage 2 Highlights (), Stage 3 thru 5 Highlights (), Stage 6 thru 8 Highlights () and Stage 9 Highlights ()
Stage 9: Bern's hometown hero, Fabian Cancellara, foils the sprinters again; Roman Kreuziger wins the overall
Stage 9 results 1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC 2 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Francaise J 3 Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Caisse 0.04 4 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick Step 0.05 5 Markus Zberg (Swi) Gerolsteiner Final general classification 1 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas 2 Andreas Kloeden (Ger) Astana 0.49 3 Igor Anton Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel 1.55 4 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre 2.11
Full Results — cyclingnewsLive Text Updates — cyclingnews Highlights and the Last Km — sporza.be The Last Km — versus Cancellara Post-Race Interview — versus
Stage 9 photos — grahamwatson Tour de Suisse TV (behind the scenes video for all stages in German)Stage 8: Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) wins the Klausenpass Mountain ITT and moves comfortably into the lead
Stage 8 results 1 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas 1.00.22 2 Jose Rujano Guillen (Ven) Caisse d'E 0.16 3 Andreas Kloeden (Ger) Astana 0.17 4 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre 0.54 5 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 1.26 6 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC 1.35 7 Igor Anton Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel 1.49 8 Thomas Loevkvist (Swe) High Road 2.08 9 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 2.20 10 Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank 2.50
General classification after stage 8 1 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas 31.42.31 2 Andreas Kloeden (Ger) Astana 0.49 3 Igor Anton Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 1.55
Full Results — cyclingnewsLive Text Updates — cyclingnews Highlights — sporza.be Stage 8 photos — grahamwatson Stage 8 photos — edward madden Tour de Suisse TV (behind the scenes video for all stages in German)Stage 7 results: Cancellara rides the break off his wheel and solos the final 5k into Lyss
Stage 7 results (45.063 km/h) 1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC 3.47.09 2 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram 0.02 3 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Silence - Lotto 4 Robert Foerster (Ger) Gerolsteiner 5 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Lampre 6 Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing Team 7 Markus Zberg (Swi) Gerolsteiner 8 Anthony Geslin (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 9 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank 10 Sebastien Hinault (Fra) Credit Agricole
high-res victory saluteFull Results — cyclingnewsLive Text Updates — cyclingnews Highlights and The Last Km — sporza.be Stage 7 photos — grahamwatson Stage 7 Lyss finish photos — edward maddenStage 6: Kim Kirchen (High Road) wins the finishing climb to Verbier and now leads the race
high-res victory salute The Last Km — sporza.be
Full Results — cyclingnews Stage 6 Verbier finish photos — edward madden Stage 6 photos — grahamwatson Highlights and The Last Km — sporza.be
Stage 5: Markus Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner wins after Frank Schleck goes over the rail on the final descent
Stage 5 results 1 Markus Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner (see above for today's top 10) Full Results — cyclingnews General classification after stage 5 1 Igor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 2 Kim Kirchen (Lux) High Road 3 Oliver Zaugg (Swi) Gerolsteiner 4 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas 5 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Quick Step 6 Thomas Loevkvist (Swe) High Road 7 Markus Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner
"I've lost the Tour of Switzerland... It was a genuine miracle that I wasn't badly hurt. I'm pretty bruised and it'll hurt for sure over the next couple of days.. I lost the opportunity to win Tour de Suisse with that crash, but mainly I'm just really grateful that I'm all right and still able to work my way towards Tour de France," Frank Schleck said post-race.
Schleck Crash and The Last Km — sporza.beSchleck Survives Spectacular Tour of Switzerland Crash — cyclingweekly.co.uk Stage 5 photos — grahamwatsonIn other cycling news, Garmin is the new title sponsor of the Slipstream-Chipotle team — velonews
Stage 4: Robbie McEwen makes it back to back sprint wins with Freire and Ciolek taking 2nd and 3rd again
Stage 4 results 1 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Silence-Lotto 2 Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank 3 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) High Road 4 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis 5 Markus Zberg (Ger) Gerolsteiner 6 Andre Korff (Ger) Team Volksbank 7 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Lampre 8 Alexandre Moos (Swi) BMC Racing Team 9 Alexandre Usov (Blr) AG2R La Mondiale 10 Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing Team Full Results — cyclingnews General classification after stage 4 1 Igor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
The Last Km — sporza.beMcEwen Silences His Critics In Tour of Switzerland — cyclingweekly.co.uk Stage 4 photos — grahamwatsonStage 3: Robbie McEwen wins the wet, sprint finish in Gossau (Zurich) ahead of Stage 1 winner Oscar Freire
high-res victory salute and high-res podium salute
The Last Km — sporza.be(To those that sent an email, yes, the Danish broadcast is now country restricted)
Stage 3 results 1 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Silence-Lotto 2 Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank 3 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team High Road Full Results — cyclingnews General classification after stage 3 1 Igor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel-EuskadiIn other news, High Road to become Team Columbia (Sportswear) — velonews
and Ever seen the winner crash at the line and still win: USA Crits Harlem Rocks Crash Finish — steephill.tv
Stage 2: Igor Anton (Euskaltel-Euskadi) wins the thrilling, wet, painful, stepped, cat 1 climb to Flumserberge
high-res victory salute
The Last Km — sporza.be
Full Results and Report — cyclingnews
Stage 1: Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank wins the sprint finish
June 14 update:Full Results and Report — cyclingnews Stage 2 Flumserberg finish photos — dotcycling Highlights and The Last Km — sporza.be
June 13 update: Preview: Swiss face-off — cyclingnews
Le Direct: Live Video and Text Coverage for Tour de Suisse 2008
Stage 9 start: Sunday 12:45 CET ();live video coverage starts: 15:50 CET ();
approximate finish: 17:00 CET ()
| media source | tv or internet | comments/restrictions |
|---|---|---|
 |
webcam w/ tour tracker |
official tour tracker in German |
 |
live internet video |
Good English commentary, $ign-up |
 |
live internet video |
Denmark; free worldwide |
 |
live internet video |
Belgium only |
 |
 TV schedule |
Switzerland, Germany; German |
 |
TV schedule |
Romande; French |
 |
TV schedule |
Italian |
 |
TV schedule |
France |
 |
Sunday stages and recaps |
North America; Sunday delayed broadcasts |
 |
live text updates |
English; all stages |
 |
live text updates |
English; starting with stage 5 on Wednesday |
 |
basic live ticker |
basic official ticker in French and German | check back at race time for more and updated links;  send a comment or a new live link |
June 11 update: Official team rosters and race previews coming soon along with tv and live internet options. For now, here is the unofficial start list — Steve
Suisse rejects Boonen, Tour to follow? — cyclingnews
April 15 update: The Tour de Suisse is a good somewhat low-key and underrated race that overlaps with the bigger Tour de France warm-up, the Dauphiné Libéré. This year, the race will once again feature lots of climbing including a 25 km mountain TT up the Klausen Pass (see video below) on the second last day replacing the normal final day TT. I've added links to the stages maps in the stage details table (see right) and the very rough google translation of each stage desscription (see below). If you know German or French then you should also check out the official site. More to come... — Steve
Tour de Suisse 2008 Route Map
2008 Preview (very rough google translation)
(I'll clean it up later...)
Stage 1: A difficult circuit done three times in Langnau im Emmental. Includes Schallenberg and the climb of Chuderh�si along the course. "The winner of this stage will be a general-purpose cyclist."
Stage 2: With nearly 200 km, it will be the longest stage of TdS 08. The first kilometers through Entlebuch are relatively undulating, then the course enters central Switzerland, goes by Sattel towards Lake Zurich and the Lake Walen. In Flums, there is final climb of 10 km.
Stage 3: A short and rather easy stage. They are the sprinters who will have the occasion to act. Kerenzerberg, immediately after the departure, is the principal obstacle. However, the crossing of the Canton de Zurich until the arrival with Gossau is relatively undulating.
The ascent of the Klausenpass sped up (update: apparently this is the other side of the passs) |
Ascent of the Klausenpass in a convertible |
Stage 4: In the field of topography, it will be the easiest stage of TdS. It carries out through the East of Switzerland, along the Lake of Constancy, with a hook by Liechtenstein while passing by Schellenberg. Then a long distance for the wheelers, Lutzisteig constituting comes the only obstacle, until Domat Ems! A unique opportunity for the sprinters.
Stage 5: A difficult stage, with Flims Lukmanier, Assembles Ceneri and the rise until Cademario, and which promises a spectacular final. It will be the hour of climbing and the specialists in the traditional ones. There will be thus suspense with Caslano, on the Lugano Lake.
Stage 6: As of the first kilometers, the riders will have to overcome the collar of Nufenen, climax of TdS 08. A long descent follows through the canton of Were worth. The final rise towards Verbier will make the selection with the general classification.
Stage 7: This stage is rather easy, with at the beginning and in the additional turn however a light alternation of rises and descents. It carries out through the Canton of Freiburg, along the Neuch�tel Lake, in the Country of the Three Bern Lakes. A good occasion for a group of escaped!
Stage 8: It is in Klausen that TdS 08 decides. A course against-the-shows difficult mountain, especially because its length. Until Spiringen, the first part is not too stiff, there is then a short descent towards Untersch�chen, before does not start the substantial part. One will see well then who will be the climbing one most extremely.
Stage 9: Not too difficult, but a permanent alternation of rises and descents. After the departure, the course along the Lake of the four Cantons presents a ground favorable to the attacks. It passes then by the Canton of Lucerne, then towards Bern. The crossing of the town of Berne will give certainly the opportunity of a finale to suspense.
2007 Tour de Suisse (Tour of Switzerland)
Route Map, Stage Details, Teams, TV Schedule, Live Updates, Results, Photos and Video
The spectacular Grimselpass will be the mountaintop finish for Stage 7: |
| Route Map | Preview | Live Coverage | Team Rosters | Stage Details and Results |
| ||||||
| Tour de Suisse 2007 Stage Details (Parcours) | ||||||
| 1 | Saturday, June 16th | 3.8 km | ||||
| Olten → Olten | TT | |||||
| profile | timetable | map | live | results | photos | video | ||||||
| 2 | Sunday, June 17th | 159 km | ||||
| Olten → Luzern | ||||||
| profile | timetable | map | live | results | photos | video | ||||||
| 3 | Monday, June 18th | 229 km | ||||
| Brunnen → Nauders |  |
|||||
| profile | timetable| map | live | results | photos | video | ||||||
| 4 | Tuesday, June 19th | 167 km | ||||
| Nauders → Triesenberg | |
|||||
| profile | timetable | map | live | results | photos | video | ||||||
| 5 | Wednesday, June 20th | 193 km | ||||
| Vaduz → Giubiasco | |
|||||
| profile | timetable | map | live | results | photos | video | ||||||
| 6 | Thursday, June 21st | 191 km | ||||
| Giubiasco → Crans-Montana | |
|||||
| profile | timetable | map | live | results | photos | video | ||||||
| 7 | Friday, June 22th | 126 km | ||||
| Ulrichen → Grimselpass | |
|||||
| profile | timetable | map | live | results | photos | video | ||||||
| 8 | Saturday, June 23rd | 153 km | ||||
| Innertkirchen → Schwarzsee | ||||||
| profile | timetable | map | live | results | photos | video | ||||||
| 9 | Sunday, June 24th | 33.7 km | ||||
| Bern → Bern | TT | |||||
| profile | timetable | map | live | results | photos | video | ||||||
| Total Distance | 1255 km | |||||
| ||||||
Stages 3 through 9 Versus Video Highlights (English, 10 minutes):
Also, see Stage 1 and 2 Video Highlights (English)
Stage 9 Results: Vladimir Karpets (Caisse d'Epargne) takes the overall win from his teammate on the final day
Bern time-trial, 33.7k (rolling)
Stage 9 Preview
Sunday June 24 update: Instead of a typical, ceremonial flat stage that ends in a sprint and does nothing to change the GC standings on the last day, we'll be treated to a time-trial that will decide the race in Bern (photo: left). There are five guys within one-minute of the leader, Vladimir Efimkin (Caisse d'Epargne), and four of them are better time-trialists. In fact, Efimkin will need the time-trial of his life to prevent Kim Kirchen, Vladimir Karpets or Frank Schleck from knocking him off the top podium step. Versus Cyclism Sundays will broadcast today's Tour de Suisse time-trial at 4:30pm ET. — SteveStage 9 Race Summary
 |
| The GC Podium: 2nd Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile Team, 1st Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne, 3rd Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel (photo by: FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images) |
Full Report — VeloNews
Video: The 4 min recap
Stage 9 Results 1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC 41.46 2 Andreas Kloden (Ger) Astana .20 3 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner .33 4 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel 1.04 5 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel 1.05 6 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne 1.06 Full Results — Cyclingnews Final General Classification 1 Vladimir Karpets (Caisse d'Epargne) 2 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile Team 1.04 3 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel 1.30 4 Matteo Carrara (Ita) Unibet 1.30 5 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 1.41 6 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne 1.46 |
Stage 8 Results: Unkown Rigoberto Uran gets a low-odds win for Unibet.com
Innertkirchen → Schwarzsee, 153k (hilly)
Stage 8 Preview
Saturday June 23 update: This is another non-mountain stage that has a fair bit of climbing as it passes through the Swiss countryside and finishes with a category 3 climb up to Schwarzee (German for Black Lake, see photo). The previous two mountain stages were a little subdued so with one last chance maybe we'll get some fireworks on Saturday. Vladimir Efimkin is confident he'll hold onto his slim 24 second lead going into Sunday's time-trial. — Steve
photo credit: Schwarzsee wikipedia page
Stage 8 Race Summary
Saturday June 23 update: 20 year-old Columbian Rigoberto Uran (Unibet.com) gaps the field inside the last kilometer and powers his way to the line, winning by several seconds in Schwarzee. There is no change atop the GC going into tomorrow's final stage, a flat 33.7k time-trial in downtown Bern which will be televised on Versus in the United States. — SteveFull Report — VeloNews
Video: The final 1 km (incorrect link has been fixed)
|
Stage 8 Results 1 Rigoberto Uran (Col) Unibet.com 3.28.51 (43.811 km/h) 2 Cristian Moreni (Ita) Cofidis 0.02 3 Andreas Kl�den (Ger) Astana 4 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner 5 Gerrit Glomser (Aut) Volksbank 6 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne 7 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Fondital Full Results — Cyclingnews General classification after stage 8 1 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne 29.24.01 2 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile Team 0.24 3 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne 0.30 4 Matteo Carrara (Ita) Unibet.com 0.31 5 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 0.33 6 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 0.57 |
Stage 7 Results: Vladimir Gusev (Discovery Channel) solos up the Grimselpass and easily wins the Queen Stage; Vladimir Efimkin extends his lead
Ulrichen →
Grimselpass, 126k (very mountainous)
Stage 7 Preview
Thursday June 21 update: Tomorrow's stage will pass over what looks like Swiss Pyramids. It's a short stage, but there will be lots of action (3900m or 12795 ft of climbing) packed into 126k with 2 hors-categorie climbs, the Furkapass and the Sustenpass, before finishing with the category 1 climb to the Grimselpass (see photo above). This is one of the first regions I cycled in Europe and I have fond memories of Furka and Grimsel. — Steve
Stage 7 Race SummaryFriday June 22 update: Eleven non GC contenders broke free opening a 4+ minute gap up the Sustenpass, the second of three big climbs on the day. The peloton couldn't or wasn't concerned about reeling in this group. Vladimir Gusev (Discovery), in particular, was very aggressive, almost right from the start, going clear approximately 7 kilometres into the race before ten other riders eventually joined him. 5k up on the finishing 25k climb to the Grimselpass, Gusev once again launched a successful attack and won by 2 minutes ahead of Chris Horner (Predictor-Lotto). Vladimir Efimkin (Caisse d'Epargne) finished 9th and extends his overall lead to 24 seconds. A good day for a couple guys named Vladimir, but I thought today's queen stage was a disappointment especially when Gusev said post-race, "I never had to go into the red." — Steve
Full Report — VeloNews
Stage 7 Results 1 Vladimir Gusev (Discovery Channel) 3:53:50 (32.254 kph) 2 Chris Horner (Predictor-Lotto) 2.02 3 Andreas Kloden (Astana) 2.37 4 Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre-Fondital) 5 Beat Zberg (Gerolsteiner) 3.00 6 Kim Kirchen (T-Mobile Team) 4.09 7 Vladimir Karpets (Caisse d'Epargne) 4.15 8 Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Fondital) 9 Vladimir Efimkin (Caisse d'Epargne) 10 Matteo Carrara (Unibet) 4.30 Full Results — Cyclingnews General classification after Stage 7 1 Vladimir Efimkin (Caisse d'Epargne) 2 Kim Kirchen (T-Mobile Team) .24 3 Vladimir Karpets (Caisse d'Epargne) .30 4 Matteo Carrara (Unibet) .31 5 Frank Schleck (CSC) .33 6 Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Fondital) .57 |
Stage 6 Results: Thomas Dekker (Rabobank) wins a shortened stage atop of Crans-Montana
Giubiasco → Crans-Montana, 193k (mountainous)
Nufenenpass photo credits:left: uwelino
bottom-left: wikipedia
profie: cyclingcols.com
 |
| The Crans-Montana ski resort complex offers year round skiing |
Stage 6 Results 1 Thomas Dekker (Ned) Rabobank 2 Gerrit Glomser (Aut) Volsbank .08 3 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir .11 4 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne 5 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 6 Jose Angel Gomez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 7 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne 8 Matteo Carrara (Ita) Unibet .21 9 Andreas Kloeden (Ger) Astana .31 10 Rigoberto Uran (Col) Unibet Full Results — Cyclingnews General classification after Stage 6 1 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne 2 Jose Angel Gomez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir .09 3 Frank Schleck (Lux) CSC .21
|
Stage 6 Preview
Thursday June 21 update: The fun and games are over. We are moving back into the highest regions of the Swiss Alps and the GC contenders will flex their muscles during the difficult Stage 6 and the short but epic Stage 7. But, first things first... stage 6. As you can see from the profile of the first climb today, the hors-categorie Nufenenpass will be a good opportunity to make things happen. The Nufenenpass is a long, gradual climb before it kicks up to an average of 7.5% for the last 14k. There will be carnage. Those that survive will continue the battle on the treacherous, west side descent before the flats that lead to the finishing climb (length: 15k, gain: 980m, avg: 6.4%, max: 10.9%) up to one of the world's most famous ski resorts, Crans-Montana. Stages that start with a huge climb are often the best and, at this point in the race, today should be a good one. — Steve
 |
| Liquigas's team rider Filippo Pozzato shows hailstone impacts on his shoulders after a storm in Gnosca after the start of the sixth stage of the Tour of Switzerland. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse (SWITZERLAND). More Yahoo/Reuters Photos |
Stage 6 Race Summary
Due to a hailstorm that damaged team cars (and riders), the race was halted shortly after the start and the big climb of the day over Nufenenpass was cancelled. The race restarted in Ulrichen just 95 kilometres from the finish. Rene Weissinger (Volksbank) and Victor Hugo Pena (Unibet.com) went off the front shortly after the race resumed building a maximum lead of 2 minutes but they were easily brought back before the base of the finishing cat 2 climb.
With the shortened race, the only climb was the finishing climb, 15k up to Crans-Montana. 3k from the base, CSC's Carlos Sastre was setting the pace for his teammate and race leader Frank Schleck.
Stijin Devolder (DSC) launched an attack with 10k to go with Dave Garcia Lopez (GCE) on his wheel before Lopez went on his own for 1k. Gerrit Glomser (VGB) stomped up and joined Lopez with 7k to go. In the main group, an attack by Giberto Simoni with 4k to go sent race leader Frank Schleck out the back and he easily bridged up to the two leaders.
With 3k to go more riders joined them but not Schleck. Damiano Cunego attacked several times, but Simoni was on his wheel each time. At the KOM marker, Thomas Dekker of Rabobank, this year's Tour of Romandie winner, flew by with 1.7k to go as the course flattened out to the finish. He won by 8 seconds over Gerrit Glomser and 11 seconds over Gilberto Simoni. Vladimir Efimkin (Caisse d'Epargne) finished with Simoni and takes the race leader's jersey from Schleck. — Steve
Full Report — Velonews
Stage 5 Results:Robbie McEwen easily wins the sprint finish in Giubiasco
Vaduz → Giubiasco, 193k (hilly)
 |
| The category 1 Lukmanierpass 1914m (photo by: Wikipedia) |
Stage 5 Preview
Wednesday June 20 update: If you watched yesterday's finish then you'll find it hard to believe stage 4 wasn't a mountain stage especially considering there was another cat 2 climb earlier in the stage. Most people including Fabian Cancellara would rate yesterday's finishing climb up to Malbun a category 1. There will officially be a cat 1 climb today, Lukmanierpass (length: 17k, gain: 866m, avg: 4.2%, max: 9.5%), just past the halfway point of this 193k stage, but this isn't a mountain stage either. A break should form on the climb; however, the sprinter teams will do their best to reel it in on the descent and flat run into Giubiasco, part of the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland. — SteveStage 5 Race Summary
Unibet's Laurens Ten Dam gambled that the 9 minute lead he had at the top of the day's big climb would hold to the finish. But, this would be a sprinter's stage as expected and by the end of the long non-technical descent his lead was cut to 5 minutes with 30k still to go. It only took another 15k to bring Ten Dam back ending his 160k break. With 1k to go, Ag2R replaced Liquigas at the front. With 300m to go Robbie McEwen was sitting perfectly as second man with teammate Freddie Rodriquez on the front, but he had Daniele Bennati on his wheel and Erik Zabel behind him. At the 125m marker, McEwen's man peeled off and the podium order didn't change all the way to the finish. — Steve
Stage 5 Results 1 Robbie Mcewen (Aus) Predictor-Lotto 4.55.39 (39,127 km/h) 2 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 3 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram 4 Murilo Antonio Fischer (Bra) Liquigas 5 Cristian Moreni (Ita) Cofidis 6 Gregory Rast (Swi) Astana 7 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) T-Mobile Team 8 David Kopp (Ger) Gerolsteiner 9 Martin Elmiger (Swi) Ag2r Prevoyance 10 Sebastien Hinault (Fra) Credit AgricoleFull Results — Cyclingnews
Full Report — VeloNews
Video: The final 1 km — SF TV
Stage 4 Results: Frank Schleck attacks on the finishing cat 2 climb with 8k to go and wins by 30 seconds
Nauders → Triesenberg-Malbun, 167k (hilly)
 |
| Stage 4 finishes in Malbun, Liechtenstein (photo by: Gerd Balser) |
Stage 4 Preview
Tuesday June 19th update: Tuesday's Stage 4 starts in Austria crosses back to Switzerland and then finishes with a tough cat 2 climb (length: 13k, gain: 1148m, avg: 8.8%, max: 15.3%) into tiny Liechtenstein. Despite two cat 2 climbs on today's 167k route, this is a not a mountain stage. Swiss rider and non-climber, Fabian Cancellara fiercely hung onto the Yellow Jersey during yesterday's mountain stage, but another rider will be wearing Yellow at the end of the day. — SteveStage 4 Race SummaryThe main break of the day was reeled in well before the base of the cat 2 finishing climb to Malbun, Liechtenstein. A lead group of 15 climbers then formed several kilometers up from the base until Frank Schleck (CSC) split the group with 8k to go. Several riders clawed back onto Schleck's wheel before Schleck accelerated again with 6k to go and held a lead of roughly 30 seconds all the way to the line. The remaining riders where scattered over the road which had an average grade of 10% for the last 3k. Vladimir Efimkin of Caisse d'Epargne passed Jose Angel Gomez Marchante of Saunier Duval-Prodir in the last 750m to take 2nd. Team CSC keeps the Yellow Jersey but it has been passed from Fabian Cancellara to new race leader, Frank Schleck. — Steve.Full report — VeloNews Video: The final 1 km and The 5 min recap — SF TV
|
photo: Tour de Suisse Official Site
Stage 4 Results 1 SCHLECK Frank (CSC) 4.20.37 (38.4 kmh) 2 EFIMKIN Vladimir (GCE) .32 3 GOMEZ MARCHANTE Jose A.. (SDV) .42 4 CARRARA Matteo (UNI) .48 5 KIRCHEN Kim (TMO) 6 SIMONI Gilberto (SDV) 1.05 7 KARPETS Vladimir (GCE) 1.11 8 CUNEGO Damiano (LAM) 1.25 Full Results — Cyclingnews General classification after Stage 4 1 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 14.32.24 2 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne 0.49 3 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile Team 4 Jos� Angel Gomez Marchante (Spa) Saunier Duval 0.58 5 Matteo Carrara (Ita) Unibet.com 1.05 6 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne 1.19 7 Xavier Florencio Cabre (Spa) Bouygues Telecom 1.39 8 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 1.46 9 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel 2.03 10 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir 2.06 |
Stage 3 Results: First time winner Alessandro Proni (QSI) survives a 204k break just barely holding off the field
Brunnen → Nauders, 229k (mountainous)
Stage 3 PreviewMonday June 18th update: This is the first of the three official mountain stages and by far the longest day of the Tour at 229k. After two unclassified climbs to get the legs warmed up, the riders will hit a two-tier, hors catégorie climb starting with the long, gradual grind to Wolfgangpass (length: 39k, gain: 1133m, avg: 3%, max: 12.5% ) which proceeds the fireworks up to Flüelapass (length: 13k, gain: 823m, avg: 6.3%, max: 8.5%). In between these two passes, the riders will get a very brief rest as they descend into Davos, famous for its winter sports and as host of the annual World Economic Forum. The top of Flüelapass is 2383m high... higher than the any pass in the French Pyrenees (Col du Tourmalet). From the top, the field will descend down to 1000m elevation over the next 50k giving some a chance to catch back on before the category 3 climb to Norbertshöhe (length: 5.9k, gain: 375m, avg: 6.4%, max: 8.6%). It will be a tough climb with 220k already in the books. Those that crest first will battle it out for the win on the 2k downhill finish into Nauders, Austria. — Steve
Stage 3 Race SummaryProTour rookie Alessandro Proni of QuickStep executed a plan that only an unknown commodity could pull off. He broke free in the first 25k of a 229k mountainous stage with only two other riders and survived to the finish. He eventually dropped his breakmates at the base of the 6k Norbertshöhe climb, 8k from the finish and while the other two were gobbled up as the field charged up the cat 3 climb, Proni fought on as his lead continued to dwindle. When he crested the top he led by only 6 seconds with 2k to go, but the finish was all downhill and the field was not able to reel him in. It's Proni first win as a pro and he moves all the way up into second in GC with Fabian Cancellara still in Yellow at the end of the day after a surprisingly good climbing performance for the big man. Spanish riders, Luis Pasamontes of Unibet and Daniel Navarro of Astana each draw assists as Proni's breakmates. — Steve
|
photo: Tour de Suisse Official Site Stage 3 Results 1 Alessandro Proni (Ita) Quickstep-Innergetic 2 Xavier Florencio (Spa) Bouygues Telecom 3 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile 4 Cristian Moreni (Ita) Cofidis 5 Fraenk Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 6 Matthias Kessler (Ger) Astana 7 Matteo Carrara (Ita) Unibet.com Full Results — Cyclingnews General classification after stage 3 1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC 2 Alessandro Proni (Ita) Quickstep-Innergetic 3 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile 4 Xavier Florencio (Spa) Bouygues Telecom 5 Martin Elmiger (Swi) Ag2r Prevoyance |
Stage 2 Results: Eric Zabel wins a finish that's too close to call
Olten → Luzern, 159k (hilly)
 |
| A finish that still can't be called with certainty |
Full Results — Cyclingnews
Full Report — VeloNews
Video recap in German — Schweizer Fernsehen TV
Saturday June 23 update: I finally came across the literal photo-finish. It looks like the right call was made:
Stage 1 and 2 Versus Video Highlights (English)
Olten, 3.8k (flat)
Also, see Stages 3 through 9 Video Highlights (English)
Tour de Suisse Preview
Friday June 15th update: It's been twenty years since American Andy Hampsten won back-to-back Tour de Suisse titles () and times have changed with the last two winners of Switzerland's big bike race involved in doping allegations. Now the 71st
Tour de Suisse is saddled with doping fallout. Oh well, tomorrow is another day as the saying goes.
There are officially three mountain stages with stages three through seven all looking mountainous to me. Regardless, the middle five stages in the heart of this race will be tough and the final mountaintop finish on the scenic Grimselpass will be pivotal for the GC standings, but it won't likely be the race climax. Unlike most stage races, the last day of the Tour de Suisse features a decisive time-trial in downtown Bern, Switzerland's capital. Last year, Jan Ullrich leaped onto the top podium step with a blazing final day time-trial. Unfortunately, it would be his last win and stage race and I believe his last race period. We are in the "dark days of pro cycling" remember, but keep a stiff upper-lip and a healthy lookout.
Like the overlapping Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, this stage race will feature lots of big names looking to measure their fitness or make the cut for next month's super bowl of cycling, the Tour de France. Be prepared for some great action (and scenery). Check out Cyclingnews' Tour de Suisse preview: Big guns to slug it out in Tour de Suisse for more details. — Steve
The official Tour de Suisse site is in German and France, but not English.
2007 Tour de Suisse Start List
Live and Archive Coverage
Tour de Suisse viewing options:
• Tour Tracker/German: Official Site — Free
• Video/English: Cycling.tv Premium Channel: high quality, 1200 kps video — $$
Video/English: Cycling.tv Free2View Channel: low-quality, 100 kps video — Free
• Video/German: Switzerland's Schweizer Fernsehen TV Stage Finishes: high quality, 700 kps video — Free
• Text/English: Cyclingnews text coverage starts with Stage 6 on Thursday — Free
• Text/French: Official Site — Free
• TV/English: Versus Cyclism Sundays will broadcast the Tour de Suisse on June 17th @ 5pm ET & June 24th @ 4:30pm ET and Eurosport online highlights??
2006 Tour de Suisse Video recaps for each stage
Tour de Suisse 2007 Route Map  |