Stage 1: Langnau I.E. - Langnau I.E. 146km
Suisse 1: Oscar Freire wins sprint, takes lead
Spain's Oscar Freire in the familiar victory salute. (AFP/Getty Images)
Spain's Oscar Freire, riding for the Rabobank team, sprinted to victory in the first stage of the Tour of Switzerland into Langnau im Emmental Saturday.
Freire, a three-time world champion, pulled on the race leader's jersey at the end of the 146km stage after beating Switzerland's Martin Elmiger at the finish line.
In the general classificaion Freire has a four-second lead on Elmiger, of AG2R, and another local rider, David Loosli.
Loosli had been part of a three-man group that broke free of the peloton after just 26km of racing and went on to build a maximum lead of eight minutes with 50km to race.
Their 120km raid over undulating terrain ended, however, just two kilometres from the finish line after Freire's Rabobank team took over the lead of the pursuit.
For a complete report with photos, visit Cyclingnews.com.
© BikeRadar & AFP 2008
STAGE 1 RESULTS
| 1 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa|Rabobank) | 3:42:35 | |
| 2 Martin Elmiger (Swi|AG2R La Mondiale) | ||
| 3 Kim Kirchen (Lux|Team High Road) | ||
| 4 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel|Silence - Lotto) | ||
| 5 Philippe Gilbert (Bel|Française des Jeux) | ||
| 6 Maxim Iglinsky (Kaz|Astana) | ||
| 7 Eros Capecchi (Ita|Saunier Duval - Scott) | ||
| 8 Markus Zberg (Swi|Gerolsteiner) | ||
| 9 Christian Knees (Ger|Team Milram) | ||
| 10 Michael Albasini (Swi|Liquigas) | ||
| General classification after stage 1 | ||
| 1 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa|Rabobank) | 3:42:25 | |
| 2 Martin Elmiger (Swi|AG2R La Mondiale) | 0:00:04 | |
| 3 David Loosli (Swi|Lampre) | ||
| 4 Kim Kirchen (Lux|Team High Road) | 0:00:06 | |
| 5 Iñigo Landaluze Intxaurraga (Spa|Euskaltel - Euskadi) | 0:00:07 | |
| 6 Steve Zampieri (Swi|Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone) | ||
| 7 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel|Silence - Lotto) | 0:00:10 | |
| 8 Philippe Gilbert (Bel|Française des Jeux) | ||
| 9 Maxim Iglinsky (Kaz|Astana) | ||
| 10 Eros Capecchi (Ita|Saunier Duval - Scott) |
