photo @ Tour de Suisse
excerpts from TourdeSuisse,com
Tony Martin takes yellow jersey
In seasonally high temperatures of over 30 degrees, Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-Quick-Step) rode to victory on the first day of the 78th Tour de Suisse in Bellinzona. The triple time-trial world champion did justice to his role as one of the favourites on the demanding time-trial stage over 9.4 kilometers and a difference in altitude of 205 metres across the hills of the Unesco-listed fortifications.
“I had not entirely expected to win, but I had a virtually perfect ride. To win the jersey in my chosen homeland of Switzerland and get off to a start like this is sensational. It will nevertheless be difficult to defend it tomorrow, because we came here with a team of sprinters,” commented the German. The 29-year-old was the fastest on the descent, whilst others were less fortunate and took a tumble. Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Shimano) followed on in second place six seconds behind, and Rohan Dennis (Garmin-Sharp) took third place on the winners’ podium.
Cancellara best Swiss in fourth place
The best Swiss was Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing Team) in fourth place. The Bernese rode over the finishing line 16 seconds behind Martin. “I got off to a cautious start and the mountain was tough. I’ve certainly ridden better than this on the descent, but last week’s fall is still affecting me. We saw who’s in form today and the tour now starts in earnest for me. I want to get into top form during the Tour de Suisse and lose another few kilos in the Swiss mountains for the Tour de France,” said the Olympic time-trial winner. Mathias Frank (IAM Cycling Team) also turned in a solid performance, taking 16th place as the second-best Swiss rider (+34 seconds).
Thousands of spectators line route
The favorites started early due to the forecast rain showers and thunderstorms, although these failed to appear. Thousands of spectators along the route cheered on the professionals to perform at their peak on the technically difficult course, which started and finished in the old town, whilst there was excellent entertainment in the “Piazza del Sol” against the backdrop of the Castelgrande. The starting shot for the Tour de Suisse was given in Bellinzona in Tessin, the second time in the history of the tour since 1995.
Tony Martin , Omega Pharma Quickstep
Stage 1 Results
GER 1 MARTIN, Tony (OMEGA PHARMA – QUICK-STEP) 13:48 NED 2 DUMOULIN, Tom (GIANT-SHIMANO) + 6 AUS 3 DENNIS, Rohan (GARMIN SHARP) + 13 SUI 4 CANCELLARA, Fabian (TREK FACTORY RACING) + 16 SVK 5 SAGAN, Peter (CANNONDALE) + 19 ITA 6 POZZOVIVO, Domenico (AG2R LA MONDIALE) NED 7 MOLLEMA, Bauke (BELKIN) + 22 NED 8 SLAGTER, Tom Jelte (GARMIN SHARP) + 23 ESP 9 IZAGUIRRE INSAUSTI, Jon (MOVISTAR) + 27 ITA 10 CATTANEO, Mattia (LAMPRE – MERIDA) + 29 GBR 11 KENNAUGH, Peter (SKY) ESP 12 PARDILLA BELLON, Sergio (MTN – QHUBEKA) + 31 ITA 13 FORMOLO, Davide (CANNONDALE) + 32 GBR 14 WIGGINS, Bradley (SKY) CZE 15 KREUZIGER, Roman (TINKOFF-SAXO) + 33 SUI 16 FRANK, Mathias (IAM CYCLING) + 34 AUT 17 PREIDLER, Georg (GIANT-SHIMANO) + 36 SWE 18 KESSIAKOFF, Fredrik Carl Wilhelm (ASTANA) + 37 ITA 19 REBELLIN, Davide (CCC POLSAT POLKOWICE) + 38 USA 20 KING, Benjamin (GARMIN SHARP) COL 21 ACEVEDO COLLE, Javier Alexis (GARMIN SHARP) ITA 22 BOARO, Manuele (TINKOFF-SAXO) + 39 FRA 23 RIBLON, Christophe (AG2R LA MONDIALE) FRA 24 PINOT, Thibaut (FDJ.fr) + 40 COL 25 HENAO MONTOYA, Sergio Luis (SKY) + 41
General Classification after Stage 1 GER 1 MARTIN, Tony (OMEGA PHARMA – QUICK-STEP) 13:48 NED 2 DUMOULIN, Tom (GIANT-SHIMANO) + 6 AUS 3 DENNIS, Rohan (GARMIN SHARP) + 13 SUI 4 CANCELLARA, Fabian (TREK FACTORY RACING) + 16 SVK 5 SAGAN, Peter (CANNONDALE) + 19 ITA 6 POZZOVIVO, Domenico (AG2R LA MONDIALE) NED 7 MOLLEMA, Bauke (BELKIN) + 22 NED 8 SLAGTER, Tom Jelte (GARMIN SHARP) + 23 ESP 9 IZAGUIRRE INSAUSTI, Jon (MOVISTAR) + 27 ITA 10 CATTANEO, Mattia (LAMPRE – MERIDA) + 29
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