Fabian Cancellara is Swiss cycling to most, however that maybe a misleading notion. There are plenty of other riders capable of giving him a good fight in the Road race at least. The El Al duo of Loosli and Rast or Festina's Steve Morabito come to mind for example. UBS have a squad of youngsters to help the likes of Albasini and Zahner and what about the three Wyss's?
It is a circuit one facing the riders today with 13 laps of 15km, with a pretty nasty 7% average 2km climb at the beginning. Four of the 23 riders decide to give it a go from the gun David Loosli of El Al is the instigator.
He is joined by Oliver Zaugg (Youtube), Santamorita (Pirelli) and Danilo Wyss (Domina Vacanze). This break is allowed some leeway and frankly there is noone to chase it down really as the UBS boys are made up of relitively weak young riders.
By the end of the second circuit the gap to the four leader is 3.44, the third and fourth circuit sees the gap rise to 6.52 and by the end of the fifth circuit the gap is up to 9.06.
UBS try to get their team organised on the front.
But it clearly isn't working and by the end of circuit 7 the gap is up to 11.36, with only 90 km left it looks like it is down to these 4. You can confirm that as we get to 3 laps to go and the gap is now a massive 16.22.
On the penultimate circuit two of the riders who are really the weakest sprinters of the four decide to try and get away.
Zaugg and Santambrogio are looking for some breathing space here, David Loosli looks across at Danilo Wyss who is a pretty nippy sprinter. The Domina Vacanze rider doesn't muck about and quickly closes the gap.
We move onto the last lap and the last time they climb this 2 km ish hill and the front four are really looking at each other. It seems a case of take your pick here, Danilo Wyss is marginally a better sprinter than the other three.
Zaugg moves ahead on the descent and looks to gain a couple of lengths as we head towards the final sprint. This proves a mistake as Danilo Wyss easily takes his place on the Youtube riders wheel with Santambrogio in third and Loosli fourth. As they start to really move all three overtake Zaugg.
So Zaugg has blown and now seemingly the fastest is in front however it is Loosli who is in the box seat can he get anywhere near to taking this?
Both the Pirelli rider and El Al man look to try and come around here with 500m to go, but they cannot get past the Wyss boy. Danilo Wyss is the Swiss champion!
This will be a welcome surprise to the Wyss family and perhaps put right the notion that Swiss cycling is solely about Cancellara. Speaking of the now former champion he shows his strength ditching the others on the last climb coming in alone in 5th. The pack are lead in by Albasini as the pack of youngsters proved no help whatsoever.
Cancellara is the name as we know that will be a big favourite today, let's keep in mind that he and his team finished 7th in the world TTT championships. So there must be some riders out there with ability in against the clock. The names most likely to appear with Sparticus on the podium would appear to be Morobito and Frei from protour teams Festina and Domina Vacanze. CTours best hopes seem to be with Stalder, Bertogliati and Elminger who represent Bbox, Youtube and LEGO respectively.
It is a bit windy today but the wind stays fairly constant throughout so basically is not a factor. Cancellara is not due to start until fairly late on so it gives others a chance of an early lead.
Bertogliati takes good advantage of this to set a very decent time.
Bertogliati 18.12 45.15 1.04.42
He watches on probably hoping at best for second place overall, it is Martin Elminger who comes home soon after him. The LEGO man though was behind the pace early and couldn't really pick things up.
Elminger 18.23 45.44 1.05.25
Frei of Domina Vacanze is next but again much like Elminger something is lacking from his ride and he is behind the checks early on.
Frei 18.22 45.38
He hasn't finished yet we do have everyone on the course though, Morobito started before Cancellara and has set steady if unspectacular checks.
Morobito 18.19 45.31
It is unspectacular because the rider behind him has already passed... it is motor man.
Cancellara 17.19 42.40
So fast is Fabian that he reels in the next two riders in the home straight.
That is Frei up there with him and the Control riding Wyss boy who actually set two very fast checks only to fade late on. Anyway the three riders times...
Frei 1.05.27
Morabito 1.05.18
Cancellara 1.01.22
One other rider worth mentioning is Bbox's Stalder.
Stalder 18.19 45.36 1.05.31
Seems as if everyone starting anywhere near to Cancellara was somewhat put off by his ferocious speed. Sparticus easily retains his title.
