Live Coverage – Stage 8 Tour de Suisse, 2008

to VeloNews.com’s Live Coverage of the eighth stage of the 2008 Tour de Suisse, a 25-kilometer individual time trial, from Altdorf to the top of the Klausenpass.

It’s a time trial and one late in a stage race, at that. So we’re planning to focus today’s coverage on the riders in the top-20 on GC, to see how their rides affect the overall picture here at the Tour de Suisse.

Here are the scheduled start times for the final 20 riders to leave the line
5:02 Jesus del Nero Montes (SDV)
5:04 Pietro Caucchioli (C.A.)
5:06 Tanel Kangert (AST)
5:08 Alexandre Botcharov (C.A.)
5:10 Daniel Moreno (GCE)
5:12 Alexandre Moos (BMC)
5:14 Laurens ten Dam (RAB)
5:16 Michael Albasini (LIQ)
5:18 Christian Knees (MRM)
5:20 Damiano Cunego (LAM)
5:22 Oliver Zaugg (Will not start)
5:24 Serguei Ivanov (AST)
5:26 Markus Fothen (GST)
5:28 Andy Schleck (CSC)
5:30 Andreas Kloden (AST)
5:32 Thomas Lovkvist (THR)
5:34 Stijn Devolder (QST)
5:36 Igor Anton (EUS)
5:38 Roman Kreuziger (LIQ)
5:40 Kim Kirchen (THR)

Go ahead and hit the “Contact our editors” link at the bottom of the Live Update window if you have comments, concerns or complaints. We’ll try to answer as many as time permits and post a few during today’s coverage.

the Gerolsteiner rider who has made quite a mark on this race – now in 10th on GC – has been ill and will not start today. We wish him well.

that the top nine riders today are separated by just 66 seconds. There is potential for any one of them to take the top honors on the stage and take over the yellow jersey. With 25km of uphill, there’s plenty of opportunity for a strong climber, like Andy Schleck or Stijn Devolder, to make up a lot of time.

In last year’s Tour de Suisse time trial, the one that finished in Bern, Fabian Cancellara won the largely flat time trial. He’s not among the favorites today, but Andreas Kloden (Astana) finished second, followed by Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner) and Stijn Devolder (Quick Step).

We’ll see at least a couple of those play a role in today’s results.

ranks high on the tally for KOM points, which may well be a factor in determining the outcome of another contest here, the climber’s jersey. Take a gander at how tight that race is right now:

Overall KOM
1. Maxim Iglinsky (Kaz) Astana, 42 points
2. David Loosli (Swi) Lampre, 42
3. Stijn Devolder (Bel) Quick Step, 25
4. Steve Zampieri (Swi) Cofidis, 20
5. Frank Schleck (Lux) CSC, 16
6. Inigo Landaluze (Sp) Euskaltel-Euskadi, 12
7. Jerome Pineau (F) Bouygues Telecom, 10
8. Martin Elmiger (Swi) Ag2r, 10
9. Herve Duclos-Lassalle (F) Cofidis, 10
10. Pietro Caucchioli (I) Credit Agricole, 10

Another day in Alpine paradise.

The route today is on a narrow road, which really looks like someone just decided to pave an old goat trail at points. Goat trail or not, it’s modern Switzerland and the roads are in perfect shape.

Everyone is opting for a traditional road bike today, but we’ve seen a few opt for aero clip-ons.

Currently, the best time comes from a rider who is not much of a surprise. Jose Rujano (Caisse d’Epargne) is a naturally gifted climber and he’s set a time of 1:00:38, but Jens Voigt is setting great times at the intermediate marks.

is Frank Schleck, who would probably be in the leaders jersey but for that awful crash to days ago.

hits the first time check with the third best time, trailing only Voigt and Rujano.

is still in the hot seat for the stage today.

is on the road and powering his way on the first portion of the climb.

Markus Fothen (Gerolsteiner) is in the start house.

Voigt, who set the top mark at the first time check, now trails the time of Jose Rujano, who still holds the best time at the finish, too.

is now on the road. This Schleck stands a chance of upsetting the GC, so let’s keep track of his progress.

is on the road.

From the looks of it folks, Rujano’s time may stand, falling only to the top GC riders, if at all.

The top three, for now:
1. José Rujano (Caisse d’Epargne), 41:52
2. Jens Voigt (CSC), 42:23
3. Johann Tschopp (Bouygues Telecom) 43:59

Tschopp has just finished with the second best time of the day, trailing only Rujano.

the man in second on GC, is in the start house.

is in the start house. The top GC rider’s departure, of course, that means that all riders are either on course or finished.

hits the first time check in third, trailing Voigt and Rujano.

is nearing the finish. He is already past Rujano’s time, but finishes with a time of 1:01:57… the second-best time of the day, but 1:19 behind the little Rujano. Voigt lost most of that time in the final six kilometers of the climb.

hits the second time check in third place. We’ll see how how he covers the final 6.1km.

1. Jose Rujano (Caisse d’Epargne), 41:52
2. Jens Voigt (CSC), 42:23
3. Frank Schleck (CSC), 42:29

hits the first time check trailing Voigt’s time by 59 seconds, hitting the mark at 20:35

has hit the first time check in third.

1. Jose Rujano Guillen GCE 1h00’38”
2. Jens Voigt CSC +1’19”
3. Johan Tschopp BTL +3’04”
4. Rubens Bertogliati LIQ +3’33”
5. Steve Zampieri COF +4’10”

At the first time check Devolder comes through almost a minute down.

Astana’s Steve Morabito comes through the finish with the fourth best time.

Meanwhile down the road, Igor Anton has come through the first time check in 14th and… wait!

Kreuziger – second on GC – has set a new best time at the first time check, with a 19:12!

We’re watching the time check to see how Kirchen does. Remember that Kreuziger is only 27 seconds off of the top spot.

has already lost 52 seconds to Kreuziger at the first time check. Let’s see how the rest of the route goes.

has finished with a time of 1:01:48, a time good enough for second on the stage and a good performance for a guy after that crash the other day.

Meanwhile, Cunego has hit the second time check in second, 25 seconds off of Rujano’s time.

of today’s stage, a long, slow uphill struggle, is taking place in Italy today. Rachel Atherton won the women’s downhill world title. We’ll get a report on that later.

1. Jose Rujano (Caisse d’Epargne), 1:00:38
2. Frank Schleck (CSC), 1:01:48
3. Jens Voigt (CSC), 1:01:57
4. Johann Tschopp (Bouygues Telecom), 1:03:43
5. Steve Morabito (Astana), 1:03:47

It looks like Roman Kreuziger is currently in a position to grab the stage and the overall, though we may see strong finishing performances from pure climbers on the final part of the climb.

just hit the second time check with a time eight seconds faster than that of Rujano. Kloden is having a good ride, but he started the day nearly a minute down on GC. Kreuziger, who began the day at 27-seconds, may do it…. unless he blew his wad on the early part of the climb.

this is how the top-five shaped up there:
1. Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas), 19:13
2. Jens Voigt (CSC), 19:36
3. Jose Rujano (Caisse d’Epargne), 19:42
4. Andreas Kloden (Astana), 19:48
5. Damiano Cunego (Lampre), 19:57

The Rabobank rider finishes with a time of 1:03:08, fourth best of the day.

He looks like a rabid dog, with a good face full of slober.

is in the final kilometer, passing Christian Knees of Milram.

hits time check No. 2, 32 seconds faster than Kloden, for the new best time there. We’ll see how Kirchen does there.

comes in with a time of 1:01:16, second best of the day… off of Rujano’s 1:00:38

hits the second time check 2:16 off of Kreuziger’s time. Ouch!

is on the upper portions of the climb. There are quite a few fans out here on the final kilometers of today’s stage.

Igor Anton (Euskaltel), who started two minutes ahead of him

in on Andy Schleck! The Astana man is catching his two minute man, with 1km to go.

with a time of 1:00:39! One second slower than Rujano!

Kreuziger is still chasing Anton, but it gives him someone to focus on. The Czech rider still looks like he’s on his way to a stage win and the overall, by a nice margin to boot.

is on the final kilometer. He’s really riding well over the top of the climb. He looks ready to grab the overall title, with Kirchen probably finishing 3:00 back.

with a time of 1:00:22, the first rider to top Rujano’s time and probably set to take the overall title at the Tour de Suisse.

is on his way to the finish. He started four minutes ahead of Kreuziger, so he doesn’t stand a chance of moving into the top spot today.

He finishes with a time of 1:06:52, six-and-a-half minutes back, not a solid performance by the man Lance Armstrong is picking for the overall at the Tour de France.

has lost the jersey. He’s still on route and the time has already ticked by, although he’s still 1km from the top.

struggles in with a time of 1:03:47, three-minutes-and-twenty-four seconds off of Kreuziger’s pace.

Roman Kreuziger is the stage winner and the new overall leader of the Tour de Suisse. It’s a great performance for the former world junior champion.

is the new leader, with Kloden in second at 48 seconds and Igor Anton in third at 1:55.

Top 20
1. Roman Kreuziger, (Cz), Liquigas, 25km in 1:00:22(24.848 kph)
2. Jose Rujano, (Vz), Caisse d’Epargne, at 0:16
3. Andreas Kloden, (G), Astana, at 0:17
4. Damiano Cunego, (I), Lampre, at 0:54
5. Frank Schleck, (Lux), CSC, at 1:26
6. Jens Voigt, (G), CSC, at 1:35
7. Igor Anton, (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 1:49
8. Thomas Lovkvist, (S), Team High Road, at 2:08
9. Andy Schleck, (Lux), CSC, at 2:20
10. Laurens Tendam, (Nl), Rabobank, at 2:50
11. Christian Knees, (G), Milram, at 3:00
12. Johann Tschopp, (Swi), Bouygues Telecom, at 3:21
13. Pietro Caucchioli, (I),, at 3:22
14. Steve Morabito, (Swi), Astana, at 3:24
15. Kim Kirchen, (Lux), Team High Road, at 3:25
16. Markus Fothen, (G), Gerolsteiner, at 3:29
17. Michael Albasini, (Swi), Liquigas, at 3:35
18. Volodimir Gustov, (Ukr), CSC, at 3:48
19. Rubens Bertogliati, (Swi), Saunier Duval, at 3:50
20. Jesus Del Nero Montes, (Sp), Saunier Duval, at 3:59


Overall
1. Roman Kreuziger, (Cz), Liquigas 31:42:31
2. Andreas Kloden, (G), Astana, at 49
5. Igor Anton, (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 1:55
4. Damiano Cunego, (I), Lampre, at 2:11
5. Thomas Lovkvist, (S), Team High Road, at 2:37
6. Andy Schleck, (Lux), CSC, at s.t.
7. Kim Kirchen, (Lux), Team High Road, at 2:58
8. Markus Fothen, (G), Gerolsteiner, at 4:08
9. Christian Knees, (G), Milram, at 4:18
10. Laurens Tendam, (Nl), Rabobank, at 4:26
11. Serguei Ivanov, (Rus), Astana, at 4:38
12. Michael Albasini, (Swi), Liquigas, at 5:10
13. Frank Schleck, (Lux), CSC, at 5:36
14. Daniel Moreno, (Sp), Caisse d’Epargne, at 6:47
15. Stijn Devolder, (B), Quick Step, at 6:49
16. Tanel Kangert, (Est), Ag2r Prevoyance, at 7:03
17. Pietro Caucchioli, (I), Credit Agricole, at 7:14
18. Alexandre Moos, (Swi), BMC Pro Cycling, at 7:21
19. Alexandre Botcharov, (Rus), Credit Agricole, at 7:28
20. Jesus Delneromontes, (Sp), Saunier Duval, at 7:59

is a serious 22-year-old. He’s telling reporters for Swiss TV that while he’s pleased, he’s taking nothing for granted.

“You look at that stage tomorrow,” he said. “That’s not an easy one. There are plenty of chances for things to go wrong. I am in good form right now, but I am not ready to celebrate until it’s all over.”

thanks for tuning in today and it turned out to be quite the stage, with GC changing hands and the top-10 completely shaken up. It’s the way a time trial late in a stage race should impact the race.

Tune in tomorrow and let’s see how this Tour de Suisse wraps up. See you tomorrow.