Live Coverage – Stage 6 Tour de Suisse, 2008

and welcome to veloNews.com’s Live Coverage of the fifth stage of the 2008 Tour de Suisse, a 189.7-kilometer race from Domat to Coslano.

Today’s returns the Tour to the mountains, with four rated climbs, starting with the Category 3 Flims, at 15km and then followed by the Cat. 1 Lukmanierpass at km 69.4, the Cat. 3 Monte Ceneri at 147km and then the Category 2 climb at Cademario (173.1km). It’s not a mountain-top finish today, so those dropped on that final climb might manage to reconnect on the ensuing 18-kilometer race to the finish line.

Today’s stage began at 1:20 local time and a group of 14 riders formed up on the first climb. They are now just a minute or so ahead of the main field on the way up to the summit of the Cat. 1 Lukmanierpass

Johan Tschopp (Bouyges Telecom)
Pietro Caucchioli (Credit Agricole)
Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis)
Marco Marzano (Lampre)
Giovanni Visconti (Quick Step)
Maxim Iglinsky (Astana)
Benoit Vaugrenard (FDJ)
Steve Morabito (Astana)
Jose Rujano Guillen (Caisse d’Epargne)
Pieter Jacobs (Silence-Lotto)
Jens Voigt (CSC)
Mathieu Perget (Caisse d’Epargne)
Alessandro Vanotti (Liquigas)

The 14 now have about a two minute lead on the field, with a 20-second split in the lead group.

and solidly in the middle of the climb, the leaders have broken into four groups:

Jose Rujano Guillen (Caisse d’Epargne), Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis), Pieter Jacobs (Silence-Lotto), Marco Marzano (Lampre), Giovanni Visconti (Quick Step) and Maxim Iglinsky (Astana) have dropped Benoit Vaugrenard (FDJ) from the first group.

They are being chased by Johan Tschopp (Bouyges Telecom), Pietro Caucchioli (Credit Agricole), Benoit Vaugrenard (FDJ), Steve Morabito (Astana), Jens Voigt (CSC), Mathieu Perget (Caisse d’Epargne) and Alessandro Vanotti (Liquigas).

The gaps in the lead group are not major, but they do hold a 2:30 lead over the main field, which contains all of the Tour’s favorites.

offers a welcomed break from the rain of the past few days. Even on the slopes of this major climb, which summits at around 2000 meters, the sun is out and the temperatures are quite pleasant. It’s a nice change from the on-and-off rain the peloton has been subjected to over the past couple of days.

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are about two-thirds of the way up the climb and are holding an advantage of about 2:30 on the main field. The split in the leaders’ group appears not to be significant enough to keep the group separated on the long, long descent to the feedzone at km105.

our latest time check puts the front of the leaders’ groups at 3:00, with riders spread out over 35-or-so seconds. There are really no major GC threats in the break, although with Rujano and others in there, the break does have some serious climbing talent in the mix.

While the big news here at the Tour de Suisse this week was that Team High Road will be competing at the Tour de France as Team Columbia, after signing a new title sponsor, there’s new news that the U.S.’s other major team has also signed a new benefactor.

Slipstream-Chipotle will be lining up at the Tour de France as “Garmin-Chipotle” Take a look at the story we just posted this morning: www.velonews.com/article/77889

in the lead group are expanding as Rujano and six others near the summit. They have about two kilometers remaining and lead the next group of six by about 1:00. The peloton is at 3:10.

a group of seven, consisting of Rujano, Perget, Jacobs, Marzano, Visconti and Iglinsky, is approaching the summit.

They are trailed by Caucchiolo, Marabito, Voigt and Tschopp, by about a minute, with Vaurengard, and Vannotti riding alone in that order.

road surfaces and fine weather promise to make the descent a fast one. The climb summits at 69.4km, but that descent is a long one, at around 35km. There are some real steep pitches, but the roads are in fine shape so we will hopefull not see anyone over-cook a turn or fall on the way down.

the leading seven are over the top. We’ll get time gaps and see who scored KOM points ASAP

is over the top. They have a long, long way down. We’ll try to see who kicks in the highest speed on the way down. Right now, the leaders are ticking off the kilometers at around 70kph.

was a full 3:34 to the peloton. The splits in the original lead group are still there, but they’re shrinking. It’s likely that most of the original 14 will find their way back to the lead group.

the leaders are already at the 95-kilometer mark. Visconti has moved ahead of the rest of the front group, holding a 40-second lead on the descent. He may be doing that largely because he hates company on a fast downhill, because he surely doesn’t stand much of a chance taking on the remaining 90km on his own.

are nearing the feedzone at km105. The slopehas eased off a bit – which is logical, since we’re at the feedzone and those 80kph feeds don’t usually work all that well – and it won’t be until km 140 that the road tips upward again.

the chase group with Voigt, Morabito and Tschopp has been reabsorbed by the peloton, so our prediction that they would reconnect with the leaders wasn’t worth the pixels with which it was written. Sorry.

With the absence of the Voigt chase, We have Pietro Caucchioli (Credit Agricole), Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis), Marco Marzano (Lampre), Giovanni Visconti (Quick Step)
Maxim Iglinsky (Astana), Jose Rujano Guillen (Caisse d’Epargne), Pieter Jacobs (Silence-Lotto) and Mathieu Perget (Caisse d’Epargne) leading the peloton by 3:10, out on the flat stretch before the next climb.

the weather is still perfect. The peloton trails the leaders by 3:10 and it’s the Euskaltel team of overall leader Igor Anton taking up chase duties at this point.

The peloton is still about 3:15 behind the leading seven. The leaders are at the 125km mark, meaning that they have about 65km to go. With Perget (at 3:34 on GC) and Iglinsky (at 4:33) in the break, Euskaltel has reason to keep tabs on the group and its doubtful that the break will get much leeway from here until the finish.

the leading group of seven is 3:20 ahead of the main field. The sun is still out and it’s a stunning Alpine summer day. These are ideal conditions for a bike ride, race or otherwise. It’s the kind of day you’d expect to see Julie Andrews waltzing throug a field of Edelweiss singing “The Hills are … well, you get the picture.

the Euskaltel peloton has noodged the lead down to 2:20. The ascent of the Cat. 3 Monte Ceneri begins at around 141km.

the chase effort by Euskaltel is paying off. The seven leaders are now 1:55 ahead of the main field.

The leaders are just starting on the lower slopes of the Cat. 3 Monte Ceneri. It’s a short climb that tops out at 146.9km.

Chavanel has moved out ahead of the lead group. He has about 10 seconds on the lead group… and 2:05 on the main field.

Marzano, Jacobs, Visconti and Iglinsky have joined the Cofidis rider. Interestingly, Rujano is struggling to keep pace. The gap is small, though and he’s closing in, along with Perget.

The accelerations have re-extended the lead group’s advantage to 2:38.

on the day’s final climb, the Category 2 climb at Cademario, which summits at 173.1km

the leaders are over the top and our latest time check puts the peloton at 2:10. With High Road’s Kim Kirchen in second on GC by just six seconds, we expect that the last climb won’t be an easy cruise for anyone out there today. It’s a short, but steep-at-points, ascent, which suits both Anton and Kirchen.

Back in the race, the seven leaders are back together. With 40km remaining, they have 3:02 on the main field. They aren’t really working too hard right now, fueling up for the last climb as they pass through the town of Rivera.

It’s interesting to see that the top 10 in the race are separated by just 40 seconds. The remaining 37km in today’s race, as well as the four days ahead, won’t be easy on any of them.

relying on race radio earlier in the race, we reported that Caucchioli and Voigt had been reabsorbed by the peloton. Well, now that we see them in the lead group, we have to admit an error.

Anyway, with 33km to go, Morabito is attacking out of the lead group. The cooperation in the bunch is non-existent, so he’s just plowing ahead on his own. The peloton is now 2:14 back.

the leaders’ group is breaking apart as individual riders try to bridge up to Marzano. There is no cooperation, though, and the Astana man has 44 seconds on his former breakaway companions.

Meanwhile, the peloton is coming up fast. The main field is now 1:00 behind the bulk of the break and 1:44 behind Morabito.

has moved to the front. Are they working for Kirchen or working to set up Ciolek for a stage win.

The peloton is just 19 seconds behend the bulk of the break and 1:06 off of Morabito.

the peloton has pulled back everyone in the break, with the exception of Steve Morabito, who is now 1:02 up the road and on the day’s final rated climb.

the peloton is on the climb, and trailing Morabito by 1:04.

is driving the pace at the front of the field. The gap, with 23km remaining, is now 1:00.

and Morabito’s lead has been cut to 50 seconds.

The Quick Step team is coming to the front and Morabito is beginning to fade. With 22km, he’s just 21 seconds ahead of the field. He will be caught.

is at the front of the peloton and they are about to catch Morabito.

Marcus Burkhardt has attacked and Astana’s Kloden is on his wheel. The two are about to catch Morabito.

Devolder has bridged and his putting the hammer down. Anton is vulnerable.

With Devolder leading, Astana’s Ivanov is sitting on his wheel. Anton is trying to lead the chase.

remaining and about half of the climb remaining, Devolder is driving hard at the front. He has 15 seconds on the main field… and Ivanov right on his wheel. This is a steep and twisty climb.

Devolder looks good, but he keeps looking over his shoulder. Lack of confidence?

is isolated. He’s completely without teammates. At this point Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) is driving the chase… and now Andy Schleck attacks out of the yellow jersey group.

Schleck is bridging up… Ivanov attacks and Devolder fades.

Schleck and Devolder slip back into the field… and there goes brother Frank.

Frank Schleck is moving up on Ivanov. 18km to go.

Ivanov and the Astana man cannot hold the pace. The CSC man has 15 seconds on the steep part of the climb.

is about to be caught by the yellow jersey group.

is now 20 seconds ahead of the yellow jersey group. Were this a mountain-top finish…

Out of the yellow jersey group, Marcus Fothen (Gerolsteiner) attacks.

has 24 seconds on the field, with Fothen chasing in between.

to go. Schleck is nearing the top. He has 33 seconds on the field, with Fothen still giving chase.

Back in the yellow jersey group about 25 riders, none of whom are members of the isolated race leader’s team.

Fothen crosses 14 seconds behind Schleck and 36 seconds ahead of the yellow jersey group. Interestingly, Kloden and Cunego cross at 57 seconds. All of thse gaps, though, can be negated over the final 15km to the finish.

has joined Schleck. The two are 14km from the finish and have 23 seconds over the yellow jersey group.

You’ll see that there is a little, unrated climb, after the KOM. Schleck and Fothen will crest that and have 10km to go.

the two leaders are 25 seconds ahead of the yellow jersey group. There are alot of attacks coming out of there.

The two leaders have crossed the top of that last climb just 19 seconds out in front of the yellow jersey group. It’s a narrow, twisty descent. Anton, to his credit, his holding his own.

are within view of the yellow jersey group, which is led by Ivanov and Moreno from Caisse d’Epargne.

have been pulled back by the yellow jersey group after a little dig. Schleck and Fothen are 23 seconds up the road.

to go and our two leaders have 23 seconds on this fast descent.

the two leaders are shooting down the road and have a time advantage of 25 seconds.

The two leaders are moving down the road and have 23 seconds over the chase.

The two leaders are 24 seconds ahead of the yellow jersey group, which still does not include Cunego and Kloden.

The two up front are working together nicely. Schleck is 16 seconds out of the overall lead. Will he trade a stage win for the GC boost?

6km, 26 seconds.

Schleck and Fothen continue to hold off the chase. The leading two have 28 seconds on the chase.

Schleck hit a barrier and went off the road.

Schleck is back up on his bike. Wow.

is off on his own. He’s 3km from the finish and has 25 seconds.

The crash sure changed the dynamic of the race… stage and overall.

is on his way to a stage win. He is two kilometers from the finish and 40 seconds ahead of the peloton.

that was ugly. We are glad to see Schleck survived that crash. We also hope we can snag a photo for you.

Meanwhile Fothen is on his way through the final kilometer.

500 meters.

400 meters

He’s got it.

will undoubtedly move into the top ten.

Ivanov has jumped out of the yellow jersey group and he’s going to take second, 49 seconds behind the winner.

Kreuziger outsprints Schumacher for third.

finish in a big group that finishes well back.

Here comes Frank Schleck. Glad to see it.

crosses the line, kissing a religious medal… he has a lot to be thankful for. Man, that was a long, long drop. He landed in a tree and crawled back to the road within a minute.

Schleck is a little bruised and battered but is telling reporters that he may have been knocked out of contention here, “but I will be in shape for the Tour.”

With all of the attacking, Igor Anton has kept his lead… still six seconds ahead of Kim Kirchen.

Wow… quite a finish folks. Check back tomorrow and we’ll see how things shake out with another mountain-top finish.