Joy for Swiss but Valjavec still leads

Eurosport - Thu, 18 Jun 12:16:00 2009

Home rider Michael Albasini won the 202-km fifth stage of the Tour of Switzerland when the mountains began to show the contenders for overall victory in the nine-day race.

CYCLING Team Columbia High Road's team rider Michael Albasini of Switzerland (C) celebrates winning ahead of Saxo Bank's team rider Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland the fifth stage of the Tour de Suisse cycling race in Serfaus - 0

Albasini was carefully protected by his Team Columbia colleagues in the final kilometres before winning a sprint to the line.

Compatriot and early race leader Fabian Cancellara was second and Italy's Damiano Cunego third.

Slovenian Tadej Valjavec of the AG2R team retained the overall lead after finishing ninth. Swiss Oliver Zaugg was second at 14 seconds, with Cancellara third on the same time.

Pre-race favourite Andy Schleck of Luxembourg lost more than a minute on the final climb to drop out of the overall top 10.

"I had to take some risks in the final kilometre to win but it was worth it," Albasini said.

"I think this was the hardest stage. This is my home stage race and so it's a big goal for me. I've been targeting it for months."

Albasini lost time in the opening time trial stage, won by Cancellara, but is still aiming for overall success.

"I'm taking it day by day but I'm not ruling myself out for victory," he said.

"The only thing I'm worried about is the final time trial in Berne. It's 39-km long and there will be some big time gaps.

"We'll see what happens in the next few days in the mountains. For sure Cancellara is a great rider and time triallist but there are a couple of stages where he could suffer."

Thursday's 178-km sixth stage is back in Switzerland, from Oberriet to Bad Zurzach.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 13 of 13

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  1. hey guess what worldwide your favourite rider got his­ 13th win of the season. What a guy

    From ai, on Thu 18 Jun 5:29PM

  2. I dunno....there's only 3 possibilities.
    1) He­ bonked....which he will probably admit if its true
    2)­ He faked......which would be a piece of lance-esque­ brilliance.
    3) He genuinely crapped out......which is a­ worrying sign for his TdeF hopes.

    I'm nudging­ towards 3.....an in-form schleck would have kept up­ with canvcellara on one leg even if he was watching his­ pulse.

    From gollanczv, on Thu 18 Jun 11:25AM

  3. Schleck probably riding to his pulse meter to avoid­ over doing it.

    From keir_williams, on Thu 18 Jun 11:16AM

  4. Valjavec we love you

    From blazlesi, on Thu 18 Jun 10:18AM

  5. I was watching for him ( re Schlek) earlier on in the­ final climb and he was losing touch a bit then. Was a­ bit suprised when he lost touch completely. Maybe he­ had a bad day. Can happen. I like to have a bad day­ once a week at the club TT. I wouldn't read much­ into it.

    From si1268, on Thu 18 Jun 9:45AM

  6. Nobody has mentiomed Valjavec, the most under-rated­ rider in the World. Top ten finishes in the last Tour­ and the Giro - and he wasn't even team leader.
    Nice­ guy, too. Always takes time out at the departs to sign­ autographs.

    From flick99.west, on Thu 18 Jun 8:05AM

  7. Cancellara found out he was not on the targeted list­ and took something good last night. ;)

    From Worldwide, on Wed 17 Jun 10:19PM

  8. i watched the race but i dont know what happened with­ andy,he was in leading group 2-3 km to go,but i guess­ when cancellara accelerated he lost somehow­ contact,maybe bonked

    From xangtzu, on Wed 17 Jun 8:51PM

  9. 'explanation for the loss from­ Schleck'

    I­ didn't see the race either but I guess Schleck was­ taking it a bit easy. Doesn't want to risk burning­ out or peaking too early.

    From keir_williams, on Wed 17 Jun 8:34PM

  10. go fabian!!!classy finish stage 5!

    From cmcd.pipi13, on Wed 17 Jun 7:31PM

  11. Can someone give me an explanation for the loss from­ Schleck? I wasn't able to see the race but this­ surprised me....

    From stam.hans, on Wed 17 Jun 7:26PM

  12. Why are Eurosport not covering this race, they used to.­ Cycling playing second fiddle to the endless diet of­ tennis as usual!

    From jbandbetsymac, on Wed 17 Jun 7:08PM

  13. Fabian Cancellara outclimbing Andy Schleck on a­ mountain top finish on a mountain stage - whatever­ next?

    From jbandbetsymac, on Wed 17 Jun 7:02PM
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