Peter Sagan (Cannondale Pro Cycling) claimed the second stage victory of his 2013 Tour de Suisse campaign with victory today in Bad Ragaz.
The Slovak sprint sensation, who won stage three by surviving a first category climb in the company of GC contenders, proved too fast today for his fellow sprinters.
Daniele Bennati (Saxo-Tinkoff) went wheel-to-wheel with Sagan on the flat finish but was unable to match Sagan’s blistering speed.
Sagan said: “Today we knew was a great opportunity. The third category KoM in the final was the decisive point to make the group smaller, to leave behind the pure sprinters and to organize an orderly sprint. We moved as a great team.
“At this Tour de Suisse, I went one step further for the Tour de France and my form is improving. But before this important event I have another where I want to do well, the Slovak national championship”.
World road race champion, Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing) showed good form to finish third on a stage punctuated with a third category climb just five kilometres from the finish.
The short climb split the bunch, creating a lead group of about 30 riders who crested the summit together and began a descent into Bad Ragaz.
Race leader, Mathias Frank (BMC Racing) finished in the lead group to retain his 13-second margin over defending champion, Rui Costa (Movistar), ahead of tomorrow’s final stage time trial.
Cameron Meyer (Orica-GreenEDGE) suffered the worst fortune of the day by puncturing shortly before the climb.
The Australian, who won the opening stage time trial and wore the yellow jersey of race leader for three days, was unable to catch the leaders, and lost five places on GC.
For Sagan, stage eight of the 2013 Tour de Suisse represented another successful day at the office.
The Tourminator has now won seven stages of the Swiss national tour in three starts. Today’s victory was his eleventh of the season.
Tour de Suisse 2013: stage eight – result
1) Peter Sagan (SLO) – Cannondale Pro Cycling – 4.33.26
2) Daniele Bennati (ITA)- Saxo-Tinkoff – ST
3) Philippe Gilbert (BEL) – BMC Racing
4) Michael Albasini (SUI) – Orica-GreenEDGE
5) Christophe Riblon (FRA) – Ag2r-La Mondiale
6) Martin Elmiger (SUI) – IAM Cycling
7) Peter Velits (SVK) – Omega Pharma-QuickStep
8) Julien Simon (FRA) – Sojasun
9) Maxime Monfort (BEL) – RadioShack-Leopard
10) Simon Geschke (GER) – Argos-Shimano
General classification
1) Mathias Frank (SUI) – BMC Racing – 30.16.02
2) Rui Costa (POR) – Movistar +13″
3) Roman Kreuziger (CZE) +23″
4) Thiabut Pinot (FRA) – FDJ +44″
5) Bauke Mollema (NED) – Blanco Pro Cycling +46″
6) Tejay Van Garderen (USA) – BMC Racing +1.17
7) Daniel Martin (IRL) – Garmin-Sharp +1.23
8) Tanel Kangert (EST) – Astana +1.43
9) Simon Spilak (SLO) – Katusha +1.50
10) Cameron Meyer (AUS) – Orica-GreenEDGE +2.09
