Photo Essay: Cancellara's homecoming Tour in Berne

Fabian Cancellara took time after a stage on the Tour de France to talk about his career and his experience over the years in the Tour. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

On stage 16 into Berne, Switzerland, the dynamic of the race showed like that of the spring classics, ideal for the Swiss legend Fabian Cancellara. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

The stage 16 route was filled with endless small villages honoring the passage of the Tour de France. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

Switzerland welcomed the Tour de France and its countryman Fabian Cancellara on stage 16. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

In Fabian Cancellara’s hometown of Berne, fans went all out to celebrate his fabled career as “Spartacus” returned home. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

Fabian Cancellara and his Trek – Segafredo teammates were invited into the U.S. Embassy in Berne for some coffee time. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

Coffee was served at the U.S. Embassy — complements of Segafredo, of course. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

Fabian Cancellara chatted with U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland Suzi Levine and pointed out how close his home in Berne was relative to the embassy. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

The U.S. Embassy offered the Trek – Segafredo riders a quick reminder of what was still ahead in the 2016 Tour de France. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

U.S. Ambassador Suzi Levine greeted Fabian Cancellara and his Trek – Segafredo teammates at her residence in Berne. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

Ambassador Levine, her family, and the entire Trek – Segafredo squad gathered together for a photo op. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

Fabian Cancellara did some last-minute ride planning with his directors before taking the team out for a 2-hour spin on the roads around his hometown of Berne. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

As Fabian Cancellara and his Trek – Segafredo team left the U.S. Embassy for their ride, they were greeted at the gates by photographers. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

After the embassy visit, Fabian Cancellara took his boys out for a quick rest-day spin on the roads he knows best around his home in Berne. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

Fabian Cancellara and Bauke Mollema kept their legs moving on the rest day in Berne. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

There was no mistaking the bike of Fabian Cancellara during the 2016 Tour de France. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

The Trek – Segafredo boys were treated to classic Swiss landscapes thanks to their leader. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

Fabian Cancellara made some small efforts over the climbs on the rest-day spin around Berne. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

As the Tour de France left Berne, Fabian Cancellara led the peloton through his hometown alongside the maillot jaune. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

The Berne skyline. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

Fans of Fabian Cancellara said thank you and goodbye as the Swiss hero left Berne, the Tour de France, and his cycling career behind at the end of the 2016 season. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

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Photo Essay: Cancellara’s homecoming Tour in Berne

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