The Battle of Burghardt: German Takes Second Stage Win
Tour de Suisse
Stage 7: Savognin - Wetzikon 204.1km
Hats off to Marcus Burghardt (BMC) for winning his second stage of the Tour de Suisse. Entering the final five kilometers with a 1:05 lead, the 26-year-old German impressively shed fellow riders in an impressive breakaway. Team RadioShack rode attentively and stayed safe alongside Rabo Bank throughout the 204.2-kilometer stage from Savognin to Wetzikon that offered no threat to the general classification. Rabo Bank worked to set the peleton’s pace in yet another unpleasant, rain-drenched day of cycling.
"Everything went fine. It was just a cold, stressful day for everybody. Nothing really to report. It took some time for the breakaway to go and it started to rain more and more. It was chilly for a while, ten-twelve degrees. When you are wet, I can assure you, you feel that," said Lance Armstrong.
Armstrong continued, "The stage was not important for the general classification. I felt like I recovered well, that was the most important for me."
Looking strong from the onset, Burghardt’s efforts could not be matched as he ascended the last climb of the day, Bettswilerstr, a 793-meter Category 3. Sprinting for second, Oscar Friere (Rabobank) and Greg Van Avermaet (Omega Pharma-Lotto) rounded out the top three.
The peleton rode toward the finish town of Weitzikon 7:14 behind, while Mathias Frank (BMC), Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse), and Freire relentlessly chased the German leader at 1:11 back. A second chase group made up of Breschel, Flecha, Golas, Leezer, Kuschynski, Van de Walle, and Wilson trailed 2:30 behind the day’s sole leader as they entered the final 20-kilometer circuit.
The course offered a total of three rated climbs in Stage 7 stretching from Savognin to Wetzikon: Wildhaus (1,090 meters), Hulftegg (954 meters) and Bäretswill/Bettswiler (793 meters). The slightly windy and rainy forecast also suggested early breakaways as the course started with nearly 40-kilometers of downhill.
Radio Tour reports that more than 53-kilometers were covered in the first hour of racing. At this impressive pace considering yesterday’s grueling queen stage, early breakaway attempts were quickly marked. Finally sixteen riders, lead by the day’s eventually winner, answered the challenge by breaking away 55-kilometers from the finish.
Making the group was classics specialist Juan Antonio Flecha (Sky), who had the most to gain as the best-placed rider behind yellow jersey Robert Gesink (Rabobank), at 8:24. Protected by four teammates at the front of the peleton, yellow jersey holder Robert Gesink remained calm, unthreatened throughout the day.
Alongside Flecha were BMC teammates Marcus Burghardt, eventual winner, and Mathias Frank, impressively making the breakaway two days in a row. Frank was rewarded for his efforts, taking over the lead in the mountains classification.
Burghardt demonstrated his strength and determination, attacking on the Hulftegg, and expanding a 20-second lead to over a minute, over Sanchez, who was attempting to counter his solo attack. As he crested the final climb, 13 kilometers out of the finish, Burhardt began a perfectly executed descent as Sanchez was eventually caught by Friere, Quinziato, Van Avermaet and Frank.
Into the final kilometer, the German waved his country’s flag, celebrating with his team director and thoroughly enjoying his well-deserved second win of the year, coming a mere 48-hours after his first.
Stage 7 Results
1 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing Team 4:52:02
2 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank 0:01:01
3 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto
4 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo
5 Luis Leòn Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0:01:08
6 Mathias Frank (Swi) BMC Racing Team
7 Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Sky Professional Cycling Team 0:03:24
8 Matti Breschel (Den) Team Saxo Bank 0:03:28
9 Michal Golas (Pol) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
10 Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Quick Step
General Classification
1 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 30:15:59
2 Rigoberto Uran (Col) Caisse d'Epargne 0:00:29
3 Steve Morabito (Swi) BMC Racing Team 0:00:36
4 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:00:38
5 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Team Katusha 0:00:42
6 Matteo Carrara (Ita) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team 0:00:54
7 Lance Armstrong (USA) Team Radioshack 0:00:55
8 Oliver Zaugg (Swi) Liquigas-Doimo 0:01:01
9 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Team Saxo Bank 0:01:17
10 Thomas Löfkvist (Swe) Sky Professional Cycling Team 0:01:38
Team RadioShack - General Classification
7 Lance Armstrong (USA) Team Radioshack 0:00:55
12 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team Radioshack 0:01:48
13 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack 0:02:18
70 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Team Radioshack 0:33:25
85 Grégory Rast (Swi) Team Radioshack 0:40:40
107 Dimitri Muravyev (Kaz) Team Radioshack 0:51:24
126 Jason Mccartney (USA) Team Radioshack 1:03:37
128 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Team Radioshack 1:04:22
Yaroslav Popovych
Levi Leipheimer
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