| |
| |
 |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
SCHAFFHAUSEN, Switzerland: American Levi Leipheimer snatched overall victory from Damiano Cunego in the Tour of Switzerland on Sunday to leave the Italian in second place by only four seconds.
Switzerland's Fabian Cancellara closed his home race the way he opened it, winning the ninth stage's 32.1-kilometre time trial around Schaffhausen to claim his second stage win after his opening time trial victory in Lugano.
However, the biggest shock of the day was Lampre all-rounder Cunego losing the yellow jersey by the second smallest margin in the race's history.
Former Giro d'Italia champion Cunego went into the final stage with a 1min 59sec lead over RadioShack all-rounder Leipheimer and knowing full well he was under pressure.
And his worst fears were confirmed when Leipheimer put in a powerful display around Switzerland's northern-most town to finish third only four seconds behind teammate Andreas Kloden and 13 seconds behind world champion Cancellara.
In total, RadioShack had three riders in the stage's top ten with Portuguese Nelson Oliveria finishing fourth at 25 seconds behind Cancellara.
Cunego, who took the race lead after finishing second in stage three to Grindelwald, said in recent days that Leipheimer was his biggest concern.
And despite giving it his all on the hilly course, which at times was buffeted by short gusts of wind, the Italian's bid was always hanging in the balance.
Cunego passed the second time check, at 22.9 kilometres, still with a 33-second lead on Leipheimer in the provisional overall standings.
However, he went on to finish 2:16 off Cancellara's pace, handing Leipheimer the win by just four seconds. In 2004, Germany's Jan Ullrich beat Swiss Fabian Jeker by just a second to secure the title.
Leipheimer, who kept himself hidden for most of the week, said his sporting director's advice in the finale may have been decisive.
"I didn't know how close it was at the end," said the American, who had started fourth from last in the 140-strong field.
"All I heard was my director shouting at me to sprint for the finish at the end. I think that might have made the difference.
"I had good days and bad days this week. It was a very hard Tour of Switzerland."
In third place overall was Dutch tyro Steven Kruijswijk of Rabobank, who finished 1:02 behind Leipheimer in the overall standings. Defending champion Frank Schleck of Leopard finished seventh overall at 2:35.
Cancellara was virtually untouchable, with only specialists like Kloden and Leipheimer getting close to upstaging the record four-time world and Olympic champion.
"What can I say? It's a time trial, I gave it 100 percent as I usually do and I won," said Cancellara.
"To start and finish the race the way I have done, with two victories, makes it a perfect Tour of Switzerland for me."
- AFP/de
|
