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Casar wins Swiss stage as Kirchen celebrates early

by VeloNews.com

• June 20, 2003
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Vinokourov keeps lead

• Photos
• Results

By AFP

Up-and-coming Frenchman Sandy Casar held off a bunch of big-name sprinters to win the fourth stage of the Tour of Switzerland between Viege and Losone on Friday.

Casar, the 24-year-old Fdjeux.com rider who made his name when finishing second in last year’s Paris-Nice, held off Luxembourg’s Kim Kirchen and Australian Stuart O’Grady after the 166.5km ride. Coming in just behind was Australian sprinter Robbie McEwen, the winner of last year’s Tour de France green jersey, and CSC’s talented Kiwi Julian Dean – both of whom had battled at the finish on Thursday.

Alexander Vinokourov of Kazakhstan, this year and last year’s Paris-Nice winner, retained the overall lead after coming in ninth with the main group. The tough Telekom rider still has a six-second lead over Italian Francesco Casagrande (Lampre) while Australian Brad McGee (Fdjeux.com) is still in third at 16secs adrift.

Casar’s victory will be all the more satisfying as it came after the peloton had caught him 300 meters from the finish line after he had enjoyed the best part of a 140km breakaway.

Casar and Italian Filippo Simeoni (Domina Vacanze) decided to leave the bunch after just 20km and rode together to build a lead of more than nine minutes over the peloton. The Frenchman even enjoyed a brief spell as virtual race leader as he held a 2:30 advantage over Vinokourov in the overall standings. Vinokourov fell briefly in the Conches Valley but emerged with only scratches.

The front duo’s lead sat at 4:50 with 16km to ride, but by then their entente was diminishing with Simeoni failing to take his share of the pulls in the final 8km.

“Fortunately for me he didn’t attack with two kilometers still to ride,” said Casar, referring to Simeoni. “I wouldn’t have been able to follow him. I had cramp, but I didn’t want to show it.”

When both men were caught 300m before the finish it looked to be all over. However, Casar dug deep and produced a final effort to hold of Fassa Bortolo rider Kirchen – who had already, but prematurely, raised his arms in victory.

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Results

Stage 4 Results

Visp – Losone: 166.500 km

1. Sandy Casar (F), FDJeux.com, 4:05:01 @ 40.772 km/h

2. Kim Kirchen (Lux), Fassa Bortolo

3. Stuart O’Grady (Aus), Credit Agricole

4. Robbie Mc Ewen (Aus), Lotto-Domo

5. Julian Dean (NZl), CSC

6. Filippo Simeoni (I), Domina Vacanze – Elitron

7. Salvatore Commesso (I), Saeco

8. Alexandre Moos (Swi), Phonak

9. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz), Telekom

10. Paolo Bettini (I), Quick Step-Davitamon

11. Fabian De Waele (B), Palmans – Collstrop

12. Malte Urban (G), TBI

13. Thierry Loder (F), Ag2R Prevoyance

14. Markus Zberg (Swi), Gerolsteiner

15. Francesco Casagrande (I), Lampre

16. Marco Milesi (I), Sidermec Vini Caldirola

17. Pietro Zucconi (Swi), Sidermec Vini Caldirola

18. Roger Hammond (GB), Palmans – Collstrop

19. Nick Nuyens (B), Quick Step-Davitamon

20. Ondrej Sosenka (Cz), CCC Polsat

21. Julien Laidoun (F), Ag2R Prevoyance

22. Jan Ullrich (G), TBI

23. Gerhard Trampusch (AUT), Gerolsteiner

24. Oscar Pereiro (Sp), Phonak

25. Giuseppe Guerini (I), Telekom

26. Oscar Camenzind (Swi), Phonak

27. Sven Montgomery (Swi), Fassa Bortolo

28. ZÜlle Alex (Swi), Phonak

29. Bobby Julich (USA), Telekom

30. Martin Derganc (SLO), Domina Vacanze – Elitron

31. Daniele Nardello (I), Telekom

32. Herve Cédric (F), Credit Agricole

33. Patrik Sinkewitz (G), Quick Step-Davitamon

34. Bradley Mc Gee (Aus), FDJeux.com

35. Servais Knaven (Nl), Quick Step-Davitamon

36. Tadej Valjavec (SLO), Fassa Bortolo

37. Wladimir Belli (I), Lampre

38. Lilian Jegou (F), Credit Agricole

39. Nicolas Fritsch (F), FDJeux.com

40. Baden Cooke (Aus), FDJeux.com

41. Kevin Hulsmans (B), Quick Step-Davitamon

42. Matthew Wilson (Aus), FDJeux.com

43. Tobias Steinhauser (G), TBI

44. Tomasz Brozyna (Pol), CCC Polsat

45. Daniel Schnider (Swi), Phonak

46. Piotr Przydzial (Pol), CCC Polsat

47. Niki Aebersold (Swi), Phonak

48. Gustav Larsson (SWE), Fassa Bortolo

49. Eric Leblacher (F), Credit Agricole

50. Kyrylo Pospyeyev (Ukr), Domina Vacanze – Elitron

51. Paolo Valoti (I), Domina Vacanze – Elitron

52. Steve De Wolf (B), Palmans – Collstrop

53. Tristan Hoffman (Nl), CSC

54. Steffen Weigold (G), Gerolsteiner

55. Marcel Strauss (Swi), Gerolsteiner

56. Mark Scanlon (IRL), Ag2R Prevoyance

57. Christopher Jenner (F), Credit Agricole

58. Yohann Charpenteau (F), Credit Agricole

59. Ludewig Jörg (G), Saeco

60. Massimiliano Gentili (I), Domina Vacanze – Elitron

61. Davide Bramati (I), Quick Step-Davitamon

62. Thorsten Rund (G), TBI

63. Nick Gates (Aus), Lotto-Domo

64. David Plaza (Sp), TBI

65. Lhuiller Régis (F), FDJeux.com

66. Franck Schleck (Lux), CSC

67. Igor Astarloa (Sp), Saeco

68. Erwin Thijs (B), Palmans – Collstrop

69. Fabian Cancellara (Swi), Fassa Bortolo

70. Jurgen Van Goolen (B), Quick Step-Davitamon

71. Steffen Wesemann (G), Telekom

72. Paul Van Hyfte (B), CSC

73. Marius Sabaliauskas (Lit), Saeco

74. Thierry De Groote (B), Palmans – Collstrop

75. Bert Roesems (B), Palmans – Collstrop

76. Massimo Giunti (I), Domina Vacanze – Elitron

77. Peter Wuyts (B), Palmans – Collstrop

78. Corey Sweet (Aus), Credit Agricole

79. Dariusz Baranowski (Pol), CCC Polsat

80. Seweryn Kohut (Pol), CCC Polsat

81. Dominguez Juan Carlos (Sp), Phonak

82. Bekim Christensen (Dk), CSC

83. Piotr Chmielewski (Pol), CCC Polsat

84. Torsten Hiekmann (G), Telekom

85. Radoslaw Romanik (Pol), CCC Polsat

86. Aitor Garmendia (Sp), TBI

87. Serge Baguet (B), Lotto-Domo

88. Christophe Agnolutto (F), Ag2R Prevoyance

89. Uwe Peschel (G), Gerolsteiner

90. Robin Jean-cyril (F), FDJeux.com

91. Sebastian Lang (G), Gerolsteiner

92. Rubens Bertogliati (Swi), Lampre, 00:28

93. Domenico Passuello (I), Quick Step-Davitamon, 00:43

94. Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus), Domina Vacanze – Elitron, 00:51

95. Stephan Schreck (G), Telekom

96. Gianluca Sironi (I), Sidermec Vini Caldirola, 00:54

97. Gabriele Missaglia (I), Lampre

98. Leif Hoste (B), Lotto-Domo

99. Leon Van Bon (Nl), Lotto-Domo

100. Rik Verbrugghe (B), Lotto-Domo

101. Sergio Barbero (I), Lampre

102. Jimmy Casper (F), FDJeux.com, 1:15

103. Mauro Facci (I), Fassa Bortolo, 1:18

104. Mirko Celestino (I), Saeco, 1:52

105. Romans Vainsteins (Lat), Sidermec Vini Caldirola

106. Simone Bertoletti (I), Lampre, 2:23

107. Juan Fuentes (Sp), Saeco

108. Sergei Yakovlev (Kaz), Telekom

109. Arvis Piziks (Lat), CSC

110. Alessandro Cortinovis (I), Lampre, 15:53

111. Erki Putsep (Est), Ag2R Prevoyance

112. Sven Teutenberg (G), TBI

113. Stefan Adamsson (SWE), TBI

114. Lauri Aus (Est), Ag2R Prevoyance

115. Marco Serpellini (I), Lampre

116. FÖRster Robert (G), Gerolsteiner

117. Hans De Clercq (B), Lotto-Domo

118. Aart Vierhouten (Nl), Lotto-Domo

119. Lars Michaelsen (Dk), CSC, 22:00

120. Patrick Calcagni (Swi), Sidermec Vini Caldirola

121. Eddy Lembo (F), Palmans – Collstrop, 27:17

122. Berges Stéphane (F), Ag2R Prevoyance, 29:23

Marco Fertonani (I), Phonak

Olivier Trastour (F), Ag2R Prevoyance

Geert Van Bondt (B), CSC

Perdiguero Miguel Angel (Sp), Domina Vacanze – Elitron

Dario Frigo (I), Fassa Bortolo

Serguei Ivanov (Rus), Fassa Bortolo

Michael Rich (G), Gerolsteiner

Stefano Zanini (I), Saeco

Simone Masciarelli (I), Sidermec Vini Caldirola

Mauro Radaelli (I), Sidermec Vini Caldirola

Pavel Tonkov (Rus), CCC Polsat

Overall Results after Stage 4

1. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz), Telekom, 17:41:30

2. Francesco Casagrande (I), Lampre, 00:06

3. Bradley Mc Gee (Aus), FDJeux.com, 00:16

4. Kim Kirchen (Lux), Fassa Bortolo, 00:20

5. ZÜlle Alex (Swi), Phonak, 00:32

6. Patrik Sinkewitz (G), Quick Step-Davitamon, 00:33

7. Tadej Valjavec (SLO), Fassa Bortolo, 00:34

8. Oscar Pereiro (Sp), Phonak, 00:36

9. Giuseppe Guerini (I), Telekom, 00:36

10. Jan Ullrich (G), TBI, 00:37

11. Alexandre Moos (Swi), Phonak, 00:38

12. Wladimir Belli (I), Lampre, 00:41

13. Ondrej Sosenka (Cz), CCC Polsat, 00:49

14. Sven Montgomery (Swi), Fassa Bortolo, 00:59

15. Tomasz Brozyna (Pol), CCC Polsat, 1:02

16. Marius Sabaliauskas (Lit), Saeco, 1:02

17. Thierry Loder (F), Ag2R Prevoyance, 1:05

18. Nicolas Fritsch (F), FDJeux.com, 1:14

19. Seweryn Kohut (Pol), CCC Polsat, 1:53

20. Sandy Casar (F), FDJeux.com, 2:17

21. Salvatore Commesso (I), Saeco, 2:23

22. Gerhard Trampusch (AUT), Gerolsteiner, 2:41

23. Oscar Camenzind (Swi), Phonak, 2:42

24. Jurgen Van Goolen (B), Quick Step-Davitamon, 2:43

25. Paolo Bettini (I), Quick Step-Davitamon, 2:45

26. Kyrylo Pospyeyev (Ukr), Domina Vacanze – Elitron, 2:45

27. Radoslaw Romanik (Pol), CCC Polsat, 2:47

28. Daniel Schnider (Swi), Phonak, 2:51

29. Piotr Przydzial (Pol), CCC Polsat, 3:05

30. Bekim Christensen (Dk), CSC, 3:12

31. Gustav Larsson (SWE), Fassa Bortolo, 3:16

32. Dariusz Baranowski (Pol), CCC Polsat, 3:34

33. Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus), Domina Vacanze – Elitron, 3:48

34. Bobby Julich (USA), Telekom, 4:09

35. Markus Zberg (Swi), Gerolsteiner, 4:17

36. Tobias Steinhauser (G), TBI, 4:28

37. Uwe Peschel (G), Gerolsteiner, 4:33

38. Niki Aebersold (Swi), Phonak, 4:36

39. Yohann Charpenteau (F), Credit Agricole, 4:41

40. Ludewig Jörg (G), Saeco, 4:42

41. Christopher Jenner (F), Credit Agricole, 4:44

42. Massimo Giunti (I), Domina Vacanze – Elitron, 4:52

43. Torsten Hiekmann (G), Telekom, 4:57

44. Daniele Nardello (I), Telekom, 5:23

45. Thierry De Groote (B), Palmans – Collstrop, 5:58

46. Stuart O’Grady (Aus), Credit Agricole, 6:10

47. Rik Verbrugghe (B), Lotto-Domo, 9:56

48. Paolo Valoti (I), Domina Vacanze – Elitron, 10:01

49. Franck Schleck (Lux), CSC, 10:54

50. Piotr Chmielewski (Pol), CCC Polsat, 10:56

51. David Plaza (Sp), TBI, 11:10

52. Gabriele Missaglia (I), Lampre, 11:14

53. Nick Gates (Aus), Lotto-Domo, 11:19

54. Serge Baguet (B), Lotto-Domo, 11:23

55. Steve De Wolf (B), Palmans – Collstrop, 11:35

56. Robin Jean-cyril (F), FDJeux.com, 11:36

57. Peter Wuyts (B), Palmans – Collstrop, 11:42

58. Steffen Wesemann (G), Telekom, 11:54

59. Stephan Schreck (G), Telekom, 12:33

60. Mauro Facci (I), Fassa Bortolo, 12:37

61. Sergio Barbero (I), Lampre, 12:59

62. Aitor Garmendia (Sp), TBI, 13:09

63. Sergei Yakovlev (Kaz), Telekom, 13:38

64. Fabian Cancellara (Swi), Fassa Bortolo, 14:07

65. Filippo Simeoni (I), Domina Vacanze – Elitron, 14:27

66. Fabian De Waele (B), Palmans – Collstrop, 14:41

67. Dominguez Juan Carlos (Sp), Phonak, 14:42

68. Servais Knaven (Nl), Quick Step-Davitamon, 14:58

69. Julian Dean (NZl), CSC, 14:58

70. Massimiliano Gentili (I), Domina Vacanze – Elitron, 15:11

71. Mark Scanlon (IRL), Ag2R Prevoyance, 15:18

72. Marco Milesi (I), Sidermec Vini Caldirola, 15:24

73. Baden Cooke (Aus), FDJeux.com, 15:30

74. Lilian Jegou (F), Credit Agricole, 15:37

75. Herve Cédric (F), Credit Agricole, 15:38

76. Nick Nuyens (B), Quick Step-Davitamon, 15:47

77. Paul Van Hyfte (B), CSC, 15:51

78. Eric Leblacher (F), Credit Agricole, 15:57

79. Matthew Wilson (Aus), FDJeux.com, 15:59

80. Davide Bramati (I), Quick Step-Davitamon, 16:02

81. Erwin Thijs (B), Palmans – Collstrop, 16:13

82. Igor Astarloa (Sp), Saeco, 16:25

83. Martin Derganc (SLO), Domina Vacanze – Elitron, 16:26

84. Pietro Zucconi (Swi), Sidermec Vini Caldirola, 16:26

85. Christophe Agnolutto (F), Ag2R Prevoyance, 16:36

86. Gianluca Sironi (I), Sidermec Vini Caldirola, 17:05

87. Leon Van Bon (Nl), Lotto-Domo, 18:17

88. Marcel Strauss (Swi), Gerolsteiner, 18:29

89. Sebastian Lang (G), Gerolsteiner, 18:35

90. Robbie Mc Ewen (Aus), Lotto-Domo, 18:49

91. Romans Vainsteins (Lat), Sidermec Vini Caldirola, 19:02

92. Simone Bertoletti (I), Lampre, 19:05

93. Rubens Bertogliati (Swi), Lampre, 21:30

94. Malte Urban (G), TBI, 22:39

95. Kevin Hulsmans (B), Quick Step-Davitamon, 22:45

96. Roger Hammond (GB), Palmans – Collstrop, 22:53

97. Domenico Passuello (I), Quick Step-Davitamon, 23:49

98. Lhuiller Régis (F), FDJeux.com, 23:49

99. Jimmy Casper (F), FDJeux.com, 24:40

100. Arvis Piziks (Lat), CSC, 25:29

101. Tristan Hoffman (Nl), CSC, 25:48

102. Juan Fuentes (Sp), Saeco, 25:53

103. Bert Roesems (B), Palmans – Collstrop, 25:56

104. Thorsten Rund (G), TBI, 26:04

105. Steffen Weigold (G), Gerolsteiner, 27:07

106. Leif Hoste (B), Lotto-Domo, 27:51

107. Mirko Celestino (I), Saeco, 28:39

108. Julien Laidoun (F), Ag2R Prevoyance, 29:49

109. Corey Sweet (Aus), Credit Agricole, 30:48

110. Eddy Lembo (F), Palmans – Collstrop, 32:06

111. Hans De Clercq (B), Lotto-Domo, 35:33

112. Marco Serpellini (I), Lampre, 38:46

113. Erki Putsep (Est), Ag2R Prevoyance, 38:55

114. Lauri Aus (Est), Ag2R Prevoyance, 41:20

115. Alessandro Cortinovis (I), Lampre, 41:55

116. FÖRster Robert (G), Gerolsteiner, 42:42

117. Lars Michaelsen (Dk), CSC, 45:03

118. Patrick Calcagni (Swi), Sidermec Vini Caldirola, 45:16

119. Berges Stéphane (F), Ag2R Prevoyance, 45:55

120. Stefan Adamsson (SWE), TBI, 45:56

121. Sven Teutenberg (G), TBI, 46:08

122. Aart Vierhouten (Nl), Lotto-Domo, 46:41