Robbie McEwen wins again at the Tour de Suisse

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• Results

By Agence France Presse

2008 Tour de Suisse, stage 4: McEwen, Freire and Ciolek again

Photo: Graham Watson

Silence-Lotto’s Robbie McEwen won a sprint finish in the 170km fourth stage of the Tour of Switzerland on Tuesday for his second consecutive stage win.

The 35-year-old McEwen crossed the line ahead of Spaniard Oscar Freire of Rabobank and German Gerald Ciolek of High Road in exactly the same order as in Monday’s third stage.

2008 Tour de Suisse, stage 4: Anton holds the lead another day

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It was the third success of the season for the double winner of the Tour de France’s green jersey, after also taking the third stage of the Tour of Romandie, also on Swiss soil.

“It was a day for the sprinters,” said McEwen. “All the team did a great job, Leif Hoste carried me to one kilometre from the line, then Jurgen Roelandts opened the door for me.

2008 Tour de Suisse, stage 4: BMC’s Jonathan Garcia was in a breakaway for much of the stage.

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“I felt two guys catching up (Freire and Ciolek) but I held them off. It was a textbook sprint!”

McEwen added that he had yet to decide if he would stop before the mountain stages. “I’m going to continue for the moment, maybe I’ll try to go all the way, I don’t know …”

2008 Tour de Suisse, stage 4: Bobby Julich

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Meanwhile, the Australian played down a verbal clash with an official after Monday’s stage which resulted in him being brought before the race jury, with the Swiss press claiming he made insulting remarks concerning Switzerland.

McEwen said: “What was written isn’t accurate: I like Switzerland a lot, I’ve been coming here since 1996, it’s a very well organized event which I enjoy where people are very enthusiastic.”

Spain’s Igor Anton, of the Euskaltel team, retained the leader’s yellow jersey with a six-second advantage on Luxembourg’s Kim Kirchen.

“The past two days were difficult with dangerous roads and bad weather conditions,” said Anton.

“It’s the first time I’ve worn a yellow jersey and it’s a very nice feeling, you get more respect from others. I’m hoping to hold on to it for one more day.

“Tomorrow it’s going to be complicated and it’s an important stage for the overall standings. There will be a big climb and slopes, I’m hoping not to lose too much time and arrive in the leading group.”

Photo Gallery

Results

Stage 4 Results
1. Robbie McEwen, (AUS), Silence-Lotto
2. Oscar Freire, (ESP), Rabobank
3. Gerald Ciolek, (GER), Team High Road
4. Leonardo Duque, (COL), Cofidis
5. Markus Zberg, (SUI), Gerolsteiner
6. AndreÃÅ Korff, (GER),
7. Danilo Napolitano, (ITA), Lampre
8. Alexandre Moos, (SUI), BMC Pro Cycling
9. Alexandre Usov, (BLR), Ag2r La Mondiale
10. Danilo Wyss, (SUI), BMC Pro Cycling
11. Stuart O’grady, (AUS), CSC
12. Sebastian Langeveld, (NED), Rabobank
13. Claudio Corioni, (ITA), Liquigas
14. Renaud Dion, (FRA), Ag2r La Mondiale
15. Daniel Musiol, (GER),
16. Jose Rojas, (ESP), Caisse d’Epargne
17. Gianni Meersman, (BEL), Francaise des Jeux
18. SeÃÅbastien Hinault, (FRA), Credit Agricole
19. Vincent Jerome, (FRA), Bouygues Telecom
20. Koldo Fernandez, (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi
21. Mark Renshaw, (AUS), Credit Agricole
22. Martin Kohler, (SUI), BMC Pro Cycling
23. Erik Zabel, (GER), Milram
24. Stefan Schumacher, (GER), Gerolsteiner
25. Anthony Geslin, (FRA), Bouygues Telecom
26. Gabriel Rasch, (NOR), Credit Agricole
27. Darren Lill, (RSA), BMC Pro Cycling
28. Jurgen *roelandts, (BEL), Silence-Lotto
29. Stijn Devolder, (BEL), Quick Step
30. Gert Steegmans, (BEL), Quick Step
31. Igor Anton, (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi
32. HerveÃÅ Duclos-lassalle, (FRA), Cofidis
33. Laurens Ten Dam, (NED), Rabobank
34. Jens Voigt, (GER), CSC
35. Mickael Delage, (FRA), Francaise des Jeux
36. Serguei Ivanov, (RUS), Astana
37. Kim Kirchen, (LUX), Team High Road
38. ReneÃÅ Weissinger, (GER),
39. Andreas KloÃàden, (GER), Astana
40. Pablo Lastras, (ESP), Caisse d’Epargne
41. Yannick Talabardon, (FRA), Credit Agricole
42. SeÃÅbastien Portal, (FRA), Cofidis
43. Thomas LoÃàvkvist, (SWE), Team High Road
44. Christian Knees, (GER), Milram
45. Andy Schleck, (LUX), CSC
46. Michael Albasini, (SUI), Liquigas
47. Marco Velo, (ITA), Milram
48. Fabian Cancellara, (SUI), CSC
49. Oliver Zaugg, (SUI), Gerolsteiner
50. Frank Schleck, (LUX), CSC
51. FreÃÅdeÃÅric Guesdon, (FRA), Francaise des Jeux
52. Philippe Gilbert, (BEL), Francaise des Jeux
53. GreÃÅgory Rast, (SUI), Astana
54. Bobby Julich, (USA), CSC
55. Filippo Pozzato, (ITA), Liquigas
56. Florian Stalder, (SUI),
57. Damiano Cunego, (ITA), Lampre
58. JoseÃÅ Ivan Gutierrez, (ESP), Caisse d’Epargne
59. Alexandre Botcharov, (RUS), Credit Agricole
60. Pietro Caucchioli, (ITA), Credit Agricole
61. Paolo Tiralongo, (ITA), Lampre
62. Staf Scheirlinckx, (BEL), Cofidis
63. Stephan Schreck, (GER), Gerolsteiner
64. Roman *kreuziger, (CZE), Liquigas
65. Inigo Landaluze, (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi
66. Enrico Franzoi, (ITA), Liquigas
67. Steve Zampieri, (SUI), Cofidis
68. Hubert Schwab, (SUI), Quick Step
69. Markus Fothen, (GER), Gerolsteiner
70. Johan Van Summeren, (BEL), Silence-Lotto
71. Andreas Dietziker, (SUI),
72. Steven De Jongh, (NED), Quick Step
73. Maxim Iglinsky, (KAZ), Astana
74. Mathieu *perget, (FRA), Caisse d’Epargne
75. Kurt-asle Arvesen, (NOR), CSC
76. Volodimir Gustov, (UKR), CSC
77. Gorka Verdugo, (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi
78. Pieter *jacobs, (BEL), Silence-Lotto
79. Mathias Frank, (SUI), Gerolsteiner
80. Francisco Perez, (ESP), Caisse d’Epargne
81. Tanel *kangert, (EST), Ag2r La Mondiale
82. Angel Gomez, (ESP), Saunier Duval
83. Ralf Grabsch, (GER), Milram
84. Olaf Pollack, (GER),
85. Elias Schmaeh, (SUI),
86. Jorge Azanza, (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi
87. Daniel Moreno, (ESP), Caisse d’Epargne
88. Martin Elmiger, (SUI), Ag2r La Mondiale
89. Jesus Del Nero, (ESP), Saunier Duval
90. Francis Mourey, (FRA), Francaise des Jeux
91. Bram Tankink, (NED), Rabobank
92. Blaise Sonnery, (FRA), Ag2r La Mondiale
93. Martin MuÃàller, (GER), Milram
94. Antonio Cruz, (USA), BMC Pro Cycling
95. Olivier Bonnaire, (FRA), Bouygues Telecom
96. Marcel Sieberg, (GER), Team High Road
97. Steve Morabito, (SUI), Astana
98. Greg Van Avermaet, (BEL), Silence-Lotto
99. Rubens Bertogliati, (SUI), Saunier Duval
100. Xavier Florencio Cabre, (ESP), Bouygues Telecom
101. Robert FoÃàrster, (GER), Gerolsteiner
102. Murilo Antonio Fischer, (BRA), Liquigas
103. Eric Berthou, (FRA), Credit Agricole
104. Dmitriy Muravyev, (KAZ), Astana
105. Laszlo Bodrogi, (HUN), Credit Agricole
106. Johann Tschopp, (SUI), Bouygues Telecom
107. Marcus Burghardt, (GER), Team High Road
108. Massimiliano Mori, (ITA), Lampre
109. Steve Bovay, (SUI), BMC Pro Cycling
110. Edvald Boasson, (NOR), Team High Road
111. Vicente Reynes, (ESP), Team High Road
112. Xabier Zandio, (ESP), Caisse d’Epargne
113. Ronny Scholz, (GER), Gerolsteiner
114. Dionisio Galparsoro, (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi
115. David Loosli, (SUI), Lampre
116. Anthony Roux, (FRA), Francaise des Jeux
117. BenoiÃÇt Vaugrenard, (FRA), Francaise des Jeux
118. Sylvain Chavanel, (FRA), Cofidis
119. Philip Deignan, (IRL), Ag2r La Mondiale
120. JoseÃÅ Rujano, (VEN), Caisse d’Epargne
121. Harald Morscher, (AUT),
122. Christophe Mengin, (FRA), Francaise des Jeux
123. Matthieu Sprick, (FRA), Bouygues Telecom
124. Julien Belgy, (FRA), Bouygues Telecom