Stage 8: Altdorf - Col du Klausen individual time trial 25km
Suisse 8: Roman Kreuziger seizes lead
Roman Kreuziger (AFP/Getty Images)
Czech rider Roman Kreuziger, of the Liquigas team, won the eighth stage of the Tour of Switzerland in Altdorf onSaturday to seize the yellow jersey ahead of Sunday's final day.
The 22-year-old was first over the 25km time-trial in one hour and 22 seconds, in front of Venezuelan Jose Rujano, of the Caisse d'Epargne team, and German Andreas Klöden, of Astana.
Kreuziger left Luxembourg's Kim Kirchen (High Road) standing in his wake, opening up three-minute-plus gap to take the coveted yellow jersey.
The Czech now has a commanding lead going into Sunday's ninth and final 168km stage to Swiss capital Bern and, barring any mishaps, is looking the favourite to land his first Pro Tour victory.
Kreuziger, a former world junior champion, finished second in this year's Tour of Romandy behind Andreas Klöden.
For full results, report and photos, visit Cyclingnews.com
© AFP 2008...
STAGE 8 RESULTS
| 1 Roman Kreuziger (Cze|Liquigas) | 1:00:22 | |
| 2 José Rujano Guillen (Ven|Caisse d'Epargne) | 0:00:16 | |
| 3 Andreas Klöden (Ger|Astana) | 0:00:17 | |
| 4 Damiano Cunego (Ita|Lampre) | 0:00:54 | |
| 5 Frank Schleck (Lux|Team CSC) | 0:01:26 | |
| 6 Jens Voigt (Ger|Team CSC) | 0:01:35 | |
| 7 Igor Anton Hernandez (Spa|Euskaltel - Euskadi) | 0:01:48 | |
| 8 Thomas Lövkvist (Fra|Team High Road) | 0:02:08 | |
| 9 Andy Schleck (Lux|Team CSC) | ||
| 10 Laurens Ten Dam (Ned|Rabobank) | 0:02:50 | |
| General classification after stage 8 | ||
| 1 Roman Kreuziger (Cze|Liquigas) | ||
| 2 Andreas Klöden (Ger|Astana) | 0:00:48 | |
| 3 Igor Anton Hernandez (Spa|Euskaltel - Euskadi) | 0:01:55 | |
| 4 Damiano Cunego (Ita|Lampre) | 0:02:11 | |
| 5 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe|Team High Road) | 0:02:37 | |
| 6 Andy Schleck (Lux|Team CSC) | 0:02:57 | |
| 7 Kim Kirchen (Lux|Team High Road) | 0:02:58 | |
| 8 Markus Fothen (Ger|Gerolsteiner) | 0:04:08 | |
| 9 Christian Knees (Ger|Team Milram) | 0:04:18 | |
| 10 Laurens Ten Dam (Ned|Rabobank) | 0:04:26 |
