Michael Albasini (Orica-GreenEdge) has won the eight stage of the 2012 Tour de Suisse.
The Swiss rider scored a popular home victory with a solo win, finishing some 1.15 ahead of a chasing trio that included defending champion, Levi Leipheimer (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) and 2010 winner, Frank Schleck (RadioShack-Nissan-Trek).
“My first goal today was to get into the breakaway because we rode through the town where I lived,” said Albasini.
“I have tried to get in a break every day, and today was another day where I made the same attempt. I did a hard attack to get away with four other riders. I’m surprised that I could bring it all the way to the finish. I’m really happy with this win.”
Frank Schleck’s fourth place on today’s 148km run from Bischofszell TG to Arosa reduced the gap between himself and race leader, Rui Costa (Movistar) to 14 seconds ahead of tomorrow’s final stage.
Schleck’s directeur sportif, Kim Anderson, said his rider had attacked when he saw Costa had problems.
“We’re happy that we’re in second place now. We weren’t sure we could make that happen today. It’s all very close. We have a good team here, especially today we saw good work from Linus and Jakob before the attack,” said Anderson.
“Tomorrow is a hard, hard day,” he added, accurately describing the climb-laden 216km from Nafels-Lintharena to Sorenberg that will provide the race’s denouement.
“The big climbs are much harder than today but in the middle of the stage; then the final climb which is not as hard. But it’s a hard race and anything can still happen,” said Anderson.
Defending champion, Leipheimer, is still very much in contention, just seven seconds behind Schleck, and 21 seconds behind race leader Costa.
Tour de Suisse 2012 stage eight – result
1) Michael Albasini (SWI) – Orica-GreenEdge – 3.45.39
2) Mikel Nieve (SPA) – Euskaltel-Euskadi +1.15
3) Levi Leipheimer (USA) – OmegaPharma-QuickStep
4) Frank Schleck (LUX) – RadioShack-Nissan-Trek
5) Robert Gesink (NED) – Rabobank +1.36
6) Thibaut Pinot (FRA) – FDJ-Big Mat
7) Thomas Danielson (USA) – Garmin-Barracuda
8) Steven Kruijswijk (NED) – Rabobank +1.39
9) Roman Kreuziger (CZE) – Astana +1.57
10) Jakob Fuglsang (DEN) – RadioShack-Nissan-Trek
General classification
1) Rui Costa (POR) – Movistar – 29.58.39
2) Frank Schleck (LUX) – RadioShack-Nissan-Trek +14”
3) Levi Leipheimer (USA) – OmegaPharma-QuickStep +21”
4) Robert Gesink (NED) – Rabobank +25”
5) Mikel Nieve (SPA) – Euskaltel-Euskadi +40”
6) Roman Kreuziger (CZE) – Astana +42”
7) Thomas Danielson (USA) – Garmin-Barracuda +43”
8) Steven Kruijswijk (NED) – Rabobank +1.01
9) Alejandro Valverde (SPA) – Movistar +1.04
10) Thibaut Pinot (FRA) – FDJ-Big Mat +1.13
