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Martin scores win at Swiss Tour

  • By VeloNews.com
  • Published Jun. 20, 2009
  • Updated Jul. 4, 2009 at 8:01 AM UTC

Valjavec keeps jersey

Tour de Suisse – Stage 8: Martin wins No. 6 for Columbia.

Photo: Graham Watson

Columbia’s Tony Martin won the eighth stage of the Tour of Switzerland from Le Sentier to Crans-Montana on Saturday.

Wearing the pink climber’s jersey, the German outsprinted Damiano Cunego (Lampre) and Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank), starting his dash to the line 500 meters from the finish.

“I realized Cunego was chasing behind, and he got fairly close, but I made it in the first place to the finish all the same,” said Martin.

“I’d tried the same kind of move on Friday at the mountain-top finish in Juraparc but it didn’t work out,” he noted. “This time round was different. I waited a lot longer and finally accelerated 500 metres from the line. I got a good gap, and then I knew that I was going to be able to win.”

Already victorious in the time trial stages of the Criterium International in France and the Bayern Rundfahrt in Germany this year, the second-year pro said he considered his Swiss victory “to be the first big win of my career.”

“Hopefully I can do a good time trial on Sunday, too,” he added.

The win represents the sixth victory by Columbia-Highroad riders at this year’s Tour of Switzerland, with five different riders on that team earning stage wins.

2009 Tour de Suisse, Stage 8: Valjavec has the jersey, but his lead is trimmed to four seconds.

Photo: Graham Watson

Ag2r’s Tadej Valjavec finished fourth to maintain his hold on the leader’s jersey. Cancellara collected enough time bonuses to cut Valjavec’s overall lead to four seconds.

The Slovenian may face a big challenge from Cancellara, the former world time trial champion, in the Sunday’s final stage, a 39km individual race against the clock around the Swiss capital of Bern.

Photo Gallery

Results

Stage results

  • 1. Tony Martin (GER), Columbia-Highroad, 181.7 km in 4h12:31
    (43.173kph)
  • 2. Damiano Cunego (ITA), Lampre, Same Time
  • 3. Fabian Cancellara (SUI), Saxo Bank, at 0:02
  • 4. Tadej Valjavec (SLO), Ag2r, at 0:02
  • 5. Kim Kirchen (LUX), Columbia-Highroad, at 0:02
  • 6. Rein Taaramae (EST), Cofidis, at 0:02
  • 7. Andreas Klöden (GER), Astana, at 0:02
  • 8. Roman Kreuziger (CZE), Liquigas, at 0:02
  • 9. Vladimir Karpets (RUS), Katusha, at 0:02
  • 10. Frank Schleck (LUX), Saxo Bank, at 0:02
  • 11. Rui Costa (POR), Caisse d’Epargne, at 0:08
  • 12. Michael Albasini (SUI), Columbia-Highroad, at 0:08
  • 13. Maxime Monfort (BEL), Columbia-Highroad, at 0:19
  • 14. Eros Capecchi (ITA), Fuji-Servetto, at 0:37
  • 15. Damien Monier (FRA), Cofidis, at 1:01

Overall

  • 1. Tadej Valjavec (SLO/ALM) 32h19:48
  • 2. Fabian Cancellara (SUI), Saxo Bank, at 0:04
  • 3. Roman Kreuziger (CZE), Liquigas, at 0:28
  • 4. Tony Martin (GER), Columbia-Highroad, at 0:39
  • 5. Andreas Klöden (GER), Astana, at 0:45
  • 6. Damiano Cunego (ITA), Lampre, at 0:54
  • 7. Vladimir Karpets (RUS), Katusha, at 1:01
  • 8. Kim Kirchen (LUX), Columbia-Highroad, at 1:07
  • 9. Rein Taaramae (EST), Cofidis, at 1:08
  • 10. Maxime Monfort (BEL), Columbia-Highroad, at 1:12
  • 11. Oliver Zaugg (SUI), Liquigas, at 1:13
  • 12. Michael Albasini (SUI), Columbia-Highroad, at 1:34
  • 13. Rui Costa (POR), Caisse d’Epargne, at 2:55
  • 14. Chris-Anker Sorensen (DEN), Saxo Bank, at 2:55
  • 15. Peter Velits (SVK), Milram, at 2:57
  • 16. Damien Monier (FRA), Cofidis, at 3:12
  • 17. George Hincapie (USA), Columbia-Highroad, at 3:14

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