By Nate Vinton, VeloNews staff writer
Photo: Agence France Presse
Liquigas’s Michael Albasini jumped out of a seven-man escape group to win the fifth stage of the Tour of Switzerland on Wednesday.
The win was the first in the 24-year-old Albasini’s professional career and one that was especially sweet as it took place on home soil and came by outsprinting his old Phonak teammate, Swiss national champion, Gregory Rast at the front of a small group that finished but 38 seconds ahead of the main field.
“I never thought our group could arrive ahead of the peloton,” said Albasini. “But about 10 kilometers from the end, I began to believe we just might do it.”
T-Mobile’s Jan Ullrich finished with the peloton, easily keeping his grip on the yellow leader’s jersey, and confident of his place as the Tour of Switzerland heads into the mountains.
Photo: Agence France Presse
Wednesday’s stage took the riders 172 kilometers, winding south through central Switzerland alongside lakes and through scores of traffic circles. With the previous day’s rainstorm clearing out overnight, temperatures climbed into the 80s.
The first 115 kilometers were relatively flat, but were followed by two Category 3 climbs and a long, curvy descent through the town of Schwyz – from which Switzerland takes its name. Finally the race plunged through several tunnels before ending in the small town of Altdorf.
And it was on the day’s first climb that a group of seven – Albasini, Rast, Maarten de Bakker (Rabobank), Allan Johansen (CSC), Gustav Erik Larsson (Fassa Bartolo), Yannick Talabardon (Crédit Agricole) and Rene Haselbacher (Gerolsteiner) – slipped off the front of the field and surprised even themselves by staying away.
The group never built a huge lead, but managed to cooperate well until the final few kilometers when the usual jockeying for position began in earnest.
Both de Bakker and Haselbacher tried futile attacks as the group hit the final 1000 meters, but it was the two Swiss riders in the group – Rast and Albasini – who proved truly motivated for a stage-win before the home crowd.
Albasini dashed to cover a final attack by de Bakker, but overshot and found himself out in front with only 100 meters to go. It was clear to the fans and the announcer alike when the young rider decided to drop his head and charge for the line. But his competitors were one fatal second too late in realizing what was happening.
“I was too late,” said Rast later. “I see the wheel from Albasini, and I went for it, but I was not fast enough.”
“I get on really well with Rast, we raced together for two years when we were younger and then for two more years in the Phonak team but in a sprint like this there are no friends,” Albasini noted.
Albasini’s previous best result in a high profile race was a fifth-place finish at the Championships of Zürich. After that event, Phonak asked Albasini to remain with the team for another season, but he had already signed with Liquigas.
“I have made great progress with Liquigas,” said the 24-year-old Albasini, “and I’m not sure I would have won this stage with Phonak.”
In a post-race press conference on Wednesday, Albasini said he hopes the stage win will garner him a spot in the upcoming Tour de France. He said Liquigas has kept one spot open, but will not fill it until after next Sunday, when the Tour of Switzerland ends.
Wednesday’s two Cat. 3 climbs are nothing compared to Thursday’s haul over the hors-categorie Oberalp Pass, a set of steep switchbacks alongside glaciers, covering 1500 meters in the first 40 km.
“Now the real Tour of Switzerland begins,” said Rast after Wednesday’s finish.
Photo Gallery
Results
Stage 5 Results
1. Michael Albasini (Swi), Liquigas-Bianchi, 3:48:01
2. Gregory Rast (Swi), Phonak
3. Rene Haselbacher (A), Gerolsteiner
4. Allan Johansen (Dk), CSC
5. Gustav Erik Larsson (Swe), Fassa Bortolo
6. Yannick Talabardon (F), Credit Agricole
7. Maarten Den Bakker (Nl), Rabobank
8. Aurelien Clerc (Swi), Phonak, 0:38
9. Angelo Furlan (I), Domina Vacanze
10. Marcus Zberg (Swi), Gerolsteiner
11. Robbie Mcewen (Aus), Davitamon-Lotto
12. Luciano Pagliarini (BRA), Liquigas-Bianchi
13. Marco Zanotti (I), Liquigas-Bianchi
14. Guido Trenti (USA), Quickstep
15. Roger Hammond (GB), Discovery Channel
16. Arnaud Coyot (F), Cofidis
17. Sebastien Hinault (F), Credit Agricole
18. Daniele Righi (I), Lampre
19. Joseba Albizu (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi
20. Baden Cooke (Aus), Francaise des Jeux
21. Geoffroy Lequatre (F), Credit Agricole
22. Daniele Colli (I), Liquigas-Bianchi
23. Beat Zberg (Swi), Gerolsteiner
24. Bradley Mc Gee (Aus), Francaise des Jeux
25. Jan Ullrich (G), T-Mobile
26. Kris Horner (USA), Saunier Duval
27. Michael Barry (CAN), Discovery Channel
28. Karsten Kroon (Nl), Rabobank
29. Jens Voigt (G), CSC
30. Frank Schleck (Lux), CSC
31. Vladimir Gusev (Rus), CSC
32. Dario Frigo (I), Fassa Bortolo
33. Bernhard Eisel (A), Francaise des Jeux
34. Pablo Lastras (Sp), Illes Balears
35. Laurent Brochard (F), Bouygues Telecom
36. Mathew Hayman (Aus), Rabobank
37. Sven Montgomery (Swi), Gerolsteiner
38. Alexandre Moos (Swi), Phonak
39. Tadej Valjavec (SLO), Phonak
40. Fabian Jeker (Swi), Saunier Duval
41. David Loosli (Swi), Lampre
42. Walter Beneteau (F), Bouygues Telecom
43. Fred Rodriguez (USA), Davitamon-Lotto
44. Michael Rogers (Aus), Quickstep
45. Georg Totschnig (A), Gerolsteiner
46. Steffen Wesemann (G), T-Mobile
47. Cedric Herve (F), Credit Agricole
48. Daniel Schnider (Swi), Phonak
49. Jose Luis Arrieta (Sp), Illes Balears
50. Lorenzo Bernucci (I), Fassa Bortolo
51. Patrick Sinkewitz (G), Quickstep
52. Tom Boonen (B), Quickstep
53. Joerg Ludewig (G), Domina Vacanze
54. Kjell Carlstrim (FIN), Liquigas-Bianchi
55. Koldo Gil Perez (Sp), Liberty Seguros
56. Gerrit Glomser (A), Lampre
57. Staf Scheirlinckx (B), Cofidis
58. Franck Renier (F), Bouygues Telecom
59. Dariusz Baranowski (Pol), Liberty Seguros
60. Unai Osa Eizaguirre (Sp), Illes Balears
61. Mirko Celestino (I), Domina Vacanze
62. Matteo Tosatto (I), Fassa Bortolo
63. Vincenzo Nibali (I), Fassa Bortolo
64. Peter Farazijn (B), Cofidis
65. Peter Wrolich (A), Gerolsteiner
66. Kim Kirchen (Lux), Fassa Bortolo
67. Francesco Bellotti (I), Credit Agricole
68. Martin Elmiger (Swi), Phonak
69. Andrej Hauptman (SLO), Fassa Bortolo
70. Frederic Guesdon (F), Francaise des Jeux
71. De La Fuente (Sp), Saunier Duval
72. Thorwald Veneberg (Nl), Rabobank
73. Cadel Evans (Aus), Davitamon-Lotto
74. Jussi Veikkanen (FIN), Francaise des Jeux
75. Iker Flores (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi
76. Alessandro Bertolini (I), Domina Vacanze
77. Sascha Urweider (Swi), Phonak
78. Iban Mayo Diez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi
79. Daniel Atienza (Sp), Cofidis
80. Franco Pellizotti (I), Liquigas-Bianchi
81. Aitor Gonzalez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi
82. Ronny Scholz (G), Gerolsteiner
83. Jonath Gonzalez Rios (Sp), Illes Balears
84. Daniele Nardello (I), T-Mobile
85. Jurge Van Den Broeck (B), Discovery Channel
86. Rubens Bertogliati (Swi), Saunier Duval
87. Xabi Vila Errandonea (Sp), Lampre
88. Matej Mugerli (SLO), Liquigas-Bianchi
89. Unai Yus Kerejeta (Sp), Bouygues Telecom
90. Nicolas Inaudi (F), Cofidis
91. Javier Ramirez (Sp), Liberty Seguros
92. Leif Hoste (B), Discovery Channel
93. Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus), Rabobank
94. Luis Perez (Sp), Cofidis
95. Frederic Mainguenaud (F), Bouygues Telecom
96. Linus Gerdemann (G), CSC
97. Egoi Martinez De Est (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi
98. Charles Wegelius (GB), Liquigas-Bianchi
99. Leonardo Piepoli (I), Saunier Duval
100. Serguei Ivanov (Rus), T-Mobile
101. Wim Vansevenant (B), Davitamon-Lotto
102. Grischa Niermann (G), Rabobank
103. Max Van Heeswijk (Nl), Discovery Channel
104. Giuseppe Guerini (I), T-Mobile
105. Angel Gomez (Sp), Saunier Duval
106. Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun), Credit Agricole
107. Bobby Julich (USA), CSC
108. Michael Blaudzun (Dk), CSC
109. Jesus Hernandez (Sp), Liberty Seguros
110. Jan Boven (Nl), Rabobank
111. Andrea Peron (I), CSC
112. David Etxebarria (Sp), Liberty Seguros
113. Servais Knaven (Nl), Quickstep
114. Ludovic Auger (F), Francaise des Jeux
115. Saul Raisin (USA), Credit Agricole
116. Thomas Voeckler (F), Bouygues Telecom
117. Oscar Freire Gomez (Sp), Rabobank
118. Cedric Vasseur (F), Cofidis
119. Marco Pinotti (I), Saunier Duval
120. Matthieu Sprick (F), Bouygues Telecom
121. Kevin Hulsmans (B), Quickstep
122. Roberto Laiseka (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi
123. Nick Gates (Aus), Davitamon-Lotto
124. Niki Aebersold (Swi), Phonak
125. Fabian Cancellara (Swi), Fassa Bortolo
126. Stephan Schreck (G), T-Mobile
127. Joseba Beloki (Sp), Liberty Seguros
128. Giampaolo Caruso (I), Liberty Seguros
129. Anton Luengo (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi
130. David Lopez Garcia (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi
131. Bart Dockx (B), Davitamon-Lotto
132. Joan Horrach (Sp), Illes Balears
133. Rolf Aldag (G), T-Mobile
134. Juan Carlo Dominguez (Sp), Saunier Duval
135. Carlos Barredo (Sp), Liberty Seguros
136. Arnaud Gerard (F), Francaise des Jeux
137. Leonardo Bertagnolli (I), Cofidis
138. Tobias Steinhauser (G), T-Mobile
139. Marco Marzano (I), Lampre
140. Paolo Valoti (I), Domina Vacanze
141. Cristian Moreni (I), Quickstep
142. Freddy Bichot (F), Francaise des Jeux
143. Gert Steegmans (B), Davitamon-Lotto, 3:08
144. Christophe Kern (F), Bouygues Telecom, 3:35
145. Fabian Wegmann (G), Gerolsteiner, 3:38
146. Salvatore Commesso (I), Lampre
147. Jason Mc Cartney (USA), Discovery Channel, 7:18
148. Nico Mattan (B), Davitamon-Lotto, 13:31
Christophe Mevel (F), Credit Agricole
Marius Lam (ABD)
Marco Dom (ABD)
Alejandro Iba (NP)
General Classification
1. Jan Ullrich (G), T-Mobile, 17:02:29
2. Bradley Mc Gee (Aus), Francaise des Jeux, 0:02
3. Michael Rogers (Aus), Quickstep, 0:18
4. Dario Frigo (I), Fassa Bortolo, 1:12
5. Beat Zberg (Swi), Gerolsteiner, 1:14
6. Fabian Jeker (Swi), Saunier Duval, 1:25
7. Georg Totschnig (A), Gerolsteiner, 1:31
8. Frank Schleck (Lux), CSC, 1:41
9. Patrick Sinkewitz (G), Quickstep, 1:47
10. Aitor Gonzalez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 1:52
11. Tadej Valjavec (SLO), Phonak, 1:53
12. Koldo Gil Perez (Sp), Liberty Seguros, 1:56
13. Cadel Evans (Aus), Davitamon-Lotto, 2:02
14. Kim Kirchen (Lux), Fassa Bortolo, 2:08
15. Daniel Schnider (Swi), Phonak, 2:17
16. Jens Voigt (G), CSC, 2:20
17. Vladimir Gusev (Rus), CSC, 2:29
18. Alexandre Moos (Swi), Phonak, 2:37
19. Charles Wegelius (GB), Liquigas-Bianchi, 2:47
20. Francesco Bellotti (I), Credit Agricole, 2:48
21. Sven Montgomery (Swi), Gerolsteiner, 2:51
22. Iban Mayo Diez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 2:54
23. Michael Blaudzun (Dk), CSC, 3:04
24. Giuseppe Guerini (I), T-Mobile
25. Kris Horner (USA), Saunier Duval, 3:09
26. Vincenzo Nibali (I), Fassa Bortolo, 3:17
27. Mirko Celestino (I), Domina Vacanze, 3:18
28. Jose Luis Arrieta (Sp), Illes Balears, 3:58
29. Fabian Wegmann (G), Gerolsteiner
30. Dariusz Baranowski (Pol), Liberty Seguros, 4:03
31. Bobby Julich (USA), CSC, 4:04
32. Daniel Atienza (Sp), Cofidis, 4:13
33. Roberto Laiseka (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 4:19
34. Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun), Credit Agricole, 4:22
35. Marco Pinotti (I), Saunier Duval, 4:34
36. Martin Elmiger (Swi), Phonak, 4:36
37. Pablo Lastras (Sp), Illes Balears, 4:52
38. David Loosli (Swi), Lampre, 4:54
39. Michael Barry (CAN), Discovery Channel, 4:57
40. Jonath Gonzalez Rios (Sp), Illes Balears, 5:05
41. Rubens Bertogliati (Swi), Saunier Duval, 5:14
42. Laurent Brochard (F), Bouygues Telecom, 5:23
43. Leonardo Piepoli (I), Saunier Duval, 5:53
44. Walter Beneteau (F), Bouygues Telecom, 6:00
45. Xabi Vila Errandonea (Sp), Lampre, 6:04
46. Iker Flores (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 6:07
47. Unai Osa Eizaguirre (Sp), Illes Balears, 6:15
48. Yannick Talabardon (F), Credit Agricole, 6:30
49. Peter Wrolich (A), Gerolsteiner, 6:32
50. Cedric Vasseur (F), Cofidis, 6:42
51. Joerg Ludewig (G), Domina Vacanze, 6:43
52. Marco Marzano (I), Lampre, 6:53
53. Matthieu Sprick (F), Bouygues Telecom, 7:00
54. Grischa Niermann (G), Rabobank, 7:26
55. Jesus Hernandez (Sp), Liberty Seguros, 7:38
56. Joseba Albizu (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 7:39
57. Saul Raisin (USA), Credit Agricole, 7:41
58. Lorenzo Bernucci (I), Fassa Bortolo, 7:48
59. Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus), Rabobank, 7:56
60. Gustav Erik Larsson (Swe), Fassa Bortolo, 7:58
61. Carlos Barredo (Sp), Liberty Seguros, 8:05
62. Joseba Beloki (Sp), Liberty Seguros, 8:35
63. Fabian Cancellara (Swi), Fassa Bortolo, 8:37
64. Kjell Carlstrim (FIN), Liquigas-Bianchi, 8:40
65. Luis Perez (Sp), Cofidis, 8:42
66. Franco Pellizotti (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, 8:43
67. Tobias Steinhauser (G), T-Mobile, 8:52
68. Daniele Nardello (I), T-Mobile, 9:01
69. Maarten Den Bakker (Nl), Rabobank, 9:10
70. Allan Johansen (Dk), CSC, 9:12
71. Cristian Moreni (I), Quickstep, 9:30
72. Jurge Van Den Broeck (B), Discovery Channel, 9:44
73. Javier Ramirez (Sp), Liberty Seguros, 9:46
74. Linus Gerdemann (G), CSC, 9:49
75. Jan Boven (Nl), Rabobank, 9:50
76. David Etxebarria (Sp), Liberty Seguros, 9:55
77. Giampaolo Caruso (I), Liberty Seguros, 9:59
78. Ronny Scholz (G), Gerolsteiner, 10:01
79. Cedric Herve (F), Credit Agricole, 10:11
80. Thorwald Veneberg (Nl), Rabobank, 10:21
81. Angel Gomez (Sp), Saunier Duval
82. Staf Scheirlinckx (B), Cofidis, 10:25
83. Jussi Veikkanen (FIN), Francaise des Jeux, 10:35
84. Egoi Martinez De Est (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 11:08
85. Stephan Schreck (G), T-Mobile
86. Joan Horrach (Sp), Illes Balears, 11:29
87. Robbie Mcewen (Aus), Davitamon-Lotto, 11:34
88. Matteo Tosatto (I), Fassa Bortolo, 11:51
89. Oscar Freire Gomez (Sp), Rabobank, 12:28
90. Wim Vansevenant (B), Davitamon-Lotto, 12:32
91. Salvatore Commesso (I), Lampre, 12:42
92. Matej Mugerli (SLO), Liquigas-Bianchi, 12:47
93. Franck Renier (F), Bouygues Telecom, 13:06
94. Sebastien Hinault (F), Credit Agricole
95. David De La Fuente (Sp), Saunier Duval, 13:15
96. Sascha Urweider (Swi), Phonak, 13:23
97. Niki Aebersold (Swi), Phonak, 13:25
98. Daniele Righi (I), Lampre, 13:35
99. Andrea Peron (I), CSC, 13:51
100. Baden Cooke (Aus), Francaise des Jeux, 13:55
101. Peter Farazijn (B), Cofidis, 14:02
102. Arnaud Gerard (F), Francaise des Jeux, 14:24
103. Fred Rodriguez (USA), Davitamon-Lotto, 14:39
104. Anton Luengo (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 14:43
105. Tom Boonen (B), Quickstep, 14:50
106. Rene Haselbacher (A), Gerolsteiner, 14:53
107. Steffen Wesemann (G), T-Mobile, 14:54
108. Bernhard Eisel (A), Francaise des Jeux, 15:12
109. Alessandro Bertolini (I), Domina Vacanze, 15:14
110. Daniele Colli (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, 15:15
111. Michael Albasini (Swi), Liquigas-Bianchi, 15:22
112. Geoffroy Lequatre (F), Credit Agricole, 15:34
113. Juan Carlo Dominguez (Sp), Saunier Duval, 15:38
114. Roger Hammond (GB), Discovery Channel, 15:39
115. Marcus Zberg (Swi), Gerolsteiner, 15:47
116. Thomas Voeckler (F), Bouygues Telecom, 15:49
117. Arnaud Coyot (F), Cofidis, 16:07
118. Andrej Hauptman (SLO), Fassa Bortolo, 16:09
119. Frederic Mainguenaud (F), Bouygues Telecom, 16:12
120. Aurelien Clerc (Swi), Phonak, 16:14
121. Frederic Guesdon (F), Francaise des Jeux, 16:24
122. Mathew Hayman (Aus), Rabobank, 16:37
123. Bart Dockx (B), Davitamon-Lotto, 16:38
124. Max Van Heeswijk (Nl), Discovery Channel, 16:41
125. Leonardo Bertagnolli (I), Cofidis, 16:53
126. Ludovic Auger (F), Francaise des Jeux, 17:14
127. Serguei Ivanov (Rus), T-Mobile, 17:18
128. Rolf Aldag (G), T-Mobile, 17:27
129. Guido Trenti (USA), Quickstep, 17:40
130. Karsten Kroon (Nl), Rabobank, 17:44
131. Gregory Rast (Swi), Phonak, 18:03
132. Marco Zanotti (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, 19:25
133. Nicolas Inaudi (F), Cofidis, 19:43
134. Angelo Furlan (I), Domina Vacanze, 20:04
135. Luciano Pagliarini (BRA), Liquigas-Bianchi, 20:21
136. Gerrit Glomser (A), Lampre, 20:24
137. Nick Gates (Aus), Davitamon-Lotto, 20:25
138. Unai Yus Kerejeta (Sp), Bouygues Telecom, 20:31
139. Freddy Bichot (F), Francaise des Jeux, 22:48
140. Gert Steegmans (B), Davitamon-Lotto, 22:59
141. David Lopez Garcia (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 24:36:00
142. Kevin Hulsmans (B), Quickstep, 24:42:00
143. Servais Knaven (Nl), Quickstep, 25:59:00
144. Leif Hoste (B), Discovery Channel, 26:47:00
145. Paolo Valoti (I), Domina Vacanze, 28:09:00
146. Nico Mattan (B), Davitamon-Lotto, 29:11:00
147. Christophe Kern (F), Bouygues Telecom, 31:31:00
148. Jason Mc Cartney (USA), Discovery Channel, 32:46:00