Vacansoleil’s Borut Bozic took advantage of the confusion among the big sprinters’ teams to snatch the win in Tour de Suisse Stage Five, his first win since September.
The Slovenian rider burst into tears after crossing the finish line. Apparently he had told his teammates not to work hard for him because he didn’t have the legs to win. Teammate Marco Marcato went for the win instead; then in the final meters, Marcato faded and Bozic found the power to pass the rest of the field.
This year’s Tour de Suisse doesn’t offer the sprinters many chances to perfect their forms before the Tour de France. The three flattest stages of the race aren’t flat at all; they are packed with hills and have uphill finishes.
So far this has been an insoluble problem for the powerful sprint teams; Sky, Rabobank, and HTC-Highroad, the team of Mark Cavendish, “The Fastest Man in the World,” have been ineffective.
World champion Thor Hushovd managed to win Stage Four by following Peter Sagan, whose Liquigas teammates almost formed a lead-out train. Frustrated, the other teams were determined not to let the final kilometers devolve into chaos and be decided by individual effort again.
Those plans fell short when faced with the reality of Stage Five.
Stage Five was a long (204 km) lumpy stage, with a Cat 3 climb early and a handful of Cat 4s at end. The finish was again uphill though twisting streets, and as in Stage Four, the end of the race was a pair of 20-km laps of the city, letting the teams scout the finish line before the final approach.
The day started with a three-rider break, which was reeled in with 13 km left. Then it was pure pace—the peloton hit speeds of 45 mph on the run-in to the finish, as the sprinters’ teams tried desperately to stifle attacks.
Despite the pace a few riders took shots, but none were successful. Coming into the final four kilometers, it was HTC—long known for having the greatest lead-out train in pro cycling—leading the peloton, with Mark Cavendish riding fourth wheel.
This formula had won HTC numerous races in the past few years, but too many other teams had learned the trick; HTC wasn’t allowed to control the race. First Sky, then Euskatel, shouldered HTC’s riders aside. BMC tried to move in next; then Quickstep tried to grab the lead.
With just over a kilometer to go, Quickstep’s Tom Boonen attacked, taking advantage of the chaotic conditions. The powerful Belgian rider quickly opened a gap of a hundred meters, forcing the leading teams to forget their struggles and chase Boonen.
With all this happening, the lead-out trains were destroyed. Mark Cavendish lost his teammates and got boxed in; he shouted frantically for his teammates who tried to help, but the pace was too high and the distance too short; the Manx Missile would have to wait for another day.
Liquigas had tried to lead out Peter Sagan, but the young Slav was left on his own. Thor Hushovd also had to make a solo effort, spending his energy before the sprint in an effort to stay near the front.
Boonen was caught with 500 meters to go. As he was, Vacansoleil’s Marco Marcato took off. Organization was lost; it was every rider for himself, as RadioShack’s Robbie Hunter, Rabobank’s Oscar Freire, Peter Sagan and half a dozen others charged for the line.
Oscar Freire caught Marcato at the worst possible time, coming into the final few dozen meters. Marcato, exhausted, slowed, and Freire had to dodge left to get around him. This cost the Rabobank rider precious inches and let Marcato’s teammate Borut Bozic sneak past for the win.
Peter Sagan finished third. The strength of this young rider is amazing; after winning a mountain stage on Monday and finishing second in a sprint on Tuesday, he finished third in Stage Five, only half a meter from a second stage win.
Lampre’s Damiano Cunego kept control of the race-leader’s yellow jersey. Tomorrow he will be forced to defend his lead; Stage Six ends with the long, steep Hors Categorie climb up the Triesenberg. Count on all the General Classification contenders making moves tomorrow; everyone will be put to the test.
The Slovenian rider burst into tears after crossing the finish line. Apparently he had told his teammates not to work hard for him because he didn’t have the legs to win. Teammate Marco Marcato went for the win instead; then in the final meters, Marcato faded and Bozic found the power to pass the rest of the field.
This year’s Tour de Suisse doesn’t offer the sprinters many chances to perfect their forms before the Tour de France. The three flattest stages of the race aren’t flat at all; they are packed with hills and have uphill finishes.
So far this has been an insoluble problem for the powerful sprint teams; Sky, Rabobank, and HTC-Highroad, the team of Mark Cavendish, “The Fastest Man in the World,” have been ineffective.
World champion Thor Hushovd managed to win Stage Four by following Peter Sagan, whose Liquigas teammates almost formed a lead-out train. Frustrated, the other teams were determined not to let the final kilometers devolve into chaos and be decided by individual effort again.
Those plans fell short when faced with the reality of Stage Five.
Stage Five was a long (204 km) lumpy stage, with a Cat 3 climb early and a handful of Cat 4s at end. The finish was again uphill though twisting streets, and as in Stage Four, the end of the race was a pair of 20-km laps of the city, letting the teams scout the finish line before the final approach.
The day started with a three-rider break, which was reeled in with 13 km left. Then it was pure pace—the peloton hit speeds of 45 mph on the run-in to the finish, as the sprinters’ teams tried desperately to stifle attacks.
Despite the pace a few riders took shots, but none were successful. Coming into the final four kilometers, it was HTC—long known for having the greatest lead-out train in pro cycling—leading the peloton, with Mark Cavendish riding fourth wheel.
This formula had won HTC numerous races in the past few years, but too many other teams had learned the trick; HTC wasn’t allowed to control the race. First Sky, then Euskatel, shouldered HTC’s riders aside. BMC tried to move in next; then Quickstep tried to grab the lead.
With just over a kilometer to go, Quickstep’s Tom Boonen attacked, taking advantage of the chaotic conditions. The powerful Belgian rider quickly opened a gap of a hundred meters, forcing the leading teams to forget their struggles and chase Boonen.
With all this happening, the lead-out trains were destroyed. Mark Cavendish lost his teammates and got boxed in; he shouted frantically for his teammates who tried to help, but the pace was too high and the distance too short; the Manx Missile would have to wait for another day.
Liquigas had tried to lead out Peter Sagan, but the young Slav was left on his own. Thor Hushovd also had to make a solo effort, spending his energy before the sprint in an effort to stay near the front.
Boonen was caught with 500 meters to go. As he was, Vacansoleil’s Marco Marcato took off. Organization was lost; it was every rider for himself, as RadioShack’s Robbie Hunter, Rabobank’s Oscar Freire, Peter Sagan and half a dozen others charged for the line.
Oscar Freire caught Marcato at the worst possible time, coming into the final few dozen meters. Marcato, exhausted, slowed, and Freire had to dodge left to get around him. This cost the Rabobank rider precious inches and let Marcato’s teammate Borut Bozic sneak past for the win.
Peter Sagan finished third. The strength of this young rider is amazing; after winning a mountain stage on Monday and finishing second in a sprint on Tuesday, he finished third in Stage Five, only half a meter from a second stage win.
Lampre’s Damiano Cunego kept control of the race-leader’s yellow jersey. Tomorrow he will be forced to defend his lead; Stage Six ends with the long, steep Hors Categorie climb up the Triesenberg. Count on all the General Classification contenders making moves tomorrow; everyone will be put to the test.
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