Cameron Meyer (Orica-GreenEDGE) gave another demonstration of the time trialing skills that have twice made him Australian national champion by winning the prologue stage of the 2013 Tour de Suisse.
Meyer was 10 seconds quicker than the next fastest man, Niki Terpstra (Omega Pharma-QuickStep), at the finish of a technical 8.1km course in Quinto.
The Australian completed the course in 9.40, and now wears the yellow jersey of race leader.
Meyer said the result had left him excited and surprised.
“I started off with the earlier group of riders, and the wind was definitely in my favour. Still, my legs were good,” he said.
The GC contenders finished with similar times, less than a minute down on Meyer, a noted time trialist.
Defending champion, Rui Costa (Movistar) lost 40-seconds to the Australian, but more significantly finished four seconds ahead of Tejay Van Gaarderen, and 58 seconds in front of Ireland’s Dan Martin (Garmin-Sharp), who was lucky to not crash.
Michele Scarponi (Lampre-Merida) lost exactly a minute, while Andy Schleck (RadioShack-Leopard), who struggled with time trials even during his peak years, finished the day 1.06 down.
World road race champion, Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing) and former four-time world time trial champion, Fabian Cancellara (Radioshack-Leopard), both finished 22 seconds off the pace.
Tomorrow’s stage one encounter will see the riders finish at the summit of the first category Cranz Montana, the signature climb of the Tour de Suisse.
Tour de Suisse 2013: prologue
1) Cameron Meyer (AUS) – Orica-GreenEDGE – 9.40
2) Niki Terpstra (NED) – Omega Pharma-QuickStep +10″
3) Heinrich Haussier (AUS) – IAM Cycling +14″
4) Alex Rasmussen (DEN) – Garmin-Sharp +15″
5) Gorka Verdugo (ESP) – Euskaltel-Euskadi +16″
6) Reto Hollenstein (SWI) – IAM Cycling – ST
7) Michel Koch (GER) – Cannondale +18″
8) Peter Velits (SLO) – Omega Pharma-QuickStep +19″
9) Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) – Garmin-Sharp
10) Matteo Tosatto (ITA) – Saxo-Tinkoff
General classification
1) Cameron Meyer (AUS) – Orica-GreenEDGE – 9.40
2) Niki Terpstra (NED) – Omega Pharma-QuickStep +10″
3) Heinrich Haussier (AUS) – IAM Cycling +14″
4) Alex Rasmussen (DEN) – Garmin-Sharp +15″
5) Gorka Verdugo (ESP) – Euskaltel-Euskadi +16″
6) Reto Hollenstein (SWI) – IAM Cycling – ST
7) Michel Koch (GER) – Cannondale +18″
8) Peter Velits (SLO) – Omega Pharma-QuickStep +19″
9) Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) – Garmin-Sharp
10) Matteo Tosatto (ITA) – Saxo-Tinkoff
