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RACE REPORTS: 73RD TOUR DE SUISSE STAGE 7: KIRCHEN WINS STAGE, VALJAVEC EYES VICTORY
Road Bike Action & AFP
June 19, 2009
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(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
Luxemburg's Kim Kirchen was the winner of the seventh stage of the Tour of Switzerland on Friday, as Tadej Valjavec (AG2R) continued to lead overall, two days before the finish.
Last year's winner, Czech Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) was second over the line and Peter Velits (Milram) third. The stage victory by 2008 former Tour de France yellow jersey wearer Kirchen, adds to the success record by the Columbia-Highroad team during this event. It also represents a return to form for the 30-year-old who broke a shoulder bone in a fall during the Tour of California at the beginning of this season.
As the race enters its concluding phase, a fierce duel is shaping up between current overall leader Valjavec, Swiss time trial hero Fabian Cancellara (Saxo-Bank) and Kreuziger. Cancellara is just nine seconds behind Valjavec, the same margin as the day before, while the Czech is only 31 seconds down.
During Saturday's eighth stage to Crans Montana the 28-year-old Cancellara must avoid letting the gap increase, while hoping he can gain the necessary edge in Sunday's time trial in Berne to win the race, an important warm-up event before next month's Tour de France.
73rd Tour de Suisse
June 13-21, 2009
Stage 7: June 19, Bad Zurzach to Vallorbe 204km
1. Kim Kirchen (LUX/THR) 4hr 56min 41sec.
2. Roman Kreuziger (CZE/LIQ) @ 0:02.
3. Peter Velits (SVK/MRM) @ 0:07.
4. Oliver Zaugg (SUI/LIQ) @ s.t.
5. Eros Capecchi (ITA/FUJ)
6. Fabian Cancellara (SUI/SAX)
7. Rui Costa (POR/GCE)
8. Vladimir Karpets (RUS/KAT)
9. Tony Martin (GER/THR)
10. Chris-Anker Sörensen (DEN/SAX)
Overall Classification After Stage 7
1. Tadej Valjavec (SLO/ALM) 28hr 07min 15sec
2. Fabian Cancellara (SWI/SAX) @ 0:09
3. Oliver Zaugg (SWI/LIQ) @ 0:14.
4. Roman Kreuziger (CZE/LIQ) @ 0:31
5. Andreas Kloden (GER/AST) @ 0:45
6. Tony Martin (GER/THR) @ 0:54
7. Maxime Monfort (BEL/THR) @ 0:55
8. Gustav Larsson (SWE/SAX) @ 0:56
9. Vladimir Karpets (RUS/KAT) @ 1:01
10. Rein Taaramae (EST/COF) @1:02
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