Tour of Switzerland/Tour de Suisse, Cat 2.1

• Stages 1 to 6
• Stage 7: Short Results - Complete
• Stage 8: Short Results - Complete
• Stage 9: Short Results - Complete
• Stage 10: Short Results and Final GC - Complete

Stage 7, Locarno-Zug, 194 kms:

 1. Tom Steels (Belgium) 		5.25.13 
 2. Erik Zabel (Germany) 
 3. Lauri Aus (Estonia) 
 4. Fabio Baldato (Italy) 
 5. Fabrizio Guidi (Italy) 
 6. Nicola Minali (Italy) 
 7. Markus Zberg (Switzerland) 
 8. Emmanuel Magnien (France) 
 9. Oskar Camenzind (Switzerland) 
10. Rolf Soerensen (Denmark) all 
11. Max Van Heeswijk (Netherlands) 
12. Denis Zanette (Italy) 
13. Niki Aebersold (Switzerland) 
14. Giampaolo Mondini (Italy) 
15. Gabriele Missaglia (Italy) 		all s.t.

GC after Stage 7

 1. Christophe Agnolutto (France) 	    24.08.31 
 2. Camenzind                     		5.14
 3. Jan Ullrich (German)          		6.15
 4. David Extebarria (Spain)      		6.20
 5. Roland Meier (Switzerland)    		7.06
 6. Felix Garcia Gasas (Spain)    		8.02
 7. Stefano Garzelli (Italy)      		8.05
 8. Peter Luttenberger (Austria)  		8.12
 9. Philipp Buschor (Switzerland) 		8.14
10. Daniele Nardello (Italy)     		8.32
11. Jens Heppner (Germany)       		9.21
12. Danny Nelissen (Netherlands) 		9.44
13. Leonardo Piepoli (Italy)    	 	9.47
14. Bjarne Riis (Denmark)       	       10.02
15. Francesco Casagrande (Italy) 		s.t. 

Stage 7 Report

Steels finished the 194-km stage from Locarno in five hours, 25 minutes, 13 seconds, a bike-length ahead of Germany's Erik Zabel who had outsprinted the Belgian to win last Wednesday's second stage.

Fabio Baldo was third, leading a trio Italian riders across the line, all clocking the same time as the winner.

``I'm ready for the Tour de France,'' declared Steels after claiming his seventh win of the season. ``I've already beaten all the big names in sprinting this season.''

The stage was marked by a long breakaway effort from Switzerland's Beat Zberg and Dutchman Danny Nelissen, who went to the front on the descent after a gruelling climb over the partially snow-covered Gothard pass.

Working together, the two riders constructed a three-minute advantage but after 85 kms of breakaway they were absorbed back into the peloton with less than 10 kms remaining.

Dane Bjarne Riis, who will begin the defence of his Tour de France title in two weeks, led the charge to the finish but it was Steels who timed his move perfectly, jumping clear off Zabel's back wheel in the final 100 metres and powering his way past the winner of the Milan-San Remo-Milan World Cup classic.

Agnolutto moved closer to his first major Tour victory when he crossed 21st, in the same time as the winner, preserving a comfortable advantage of five minutes 14 seconds over Switzerland's Oskar Camenzind in the overall rankings.

Germany's Jan Ullrich stayed third, six minutes 15 seconds behind the leader.

``I still believe I can win,'' said Agnolutto, who should have few problems retaining the leader's yellow jersey in Tuesday's 174-km eighth stage from Zug to Wetzikon.

``The stage tomorrow will be very tactical but the ninth stage will depend on the legs,'' Agnolutto said.

``But each day the team has more and more confidence in me and that helps me enormously.''

Stage 8, Zug-Wetzikon, 174 kms:

 1. Rolf Aldag (Germany) Telekom    	     4.07.19 
 2. Udo Boelts (Germany) Telekom		0.57 
 3. Leon Van Bon (Netherlands) Rabobank		1.01 
 4. Daniele Nardello (Italy) Mapei
 5. Gianni Faresin (Italy) Mapei
 6. Joerg Jaksche (Germany) Polti
 7. Christophe Mengin (France) 
 8. Beat Zberg (Switzerland) Mercatone
 9. Riccardo Forconi (Italy) Amore e Vita
10. Felice Puttini (Italy) Refin
11. David Etxebarria (Spain) ONCE		1.57 
12. Oskar Camenzind (Switzerland) Mapei
13. Niki Aebersold (Switzerland) 
14. Gabriele Missaglia (Italy) 
15. Sergei Gontchar (Ukraine) 		       all s.t.

GC after Stage 8

 1. Christophe Agnolutto (France) Casino    28.17.47 
 2. Oskar Camenzind (Switzerland) Mapei 	5.14
 3. Jan Ullrich (Germany) Telekom      		6.15
 4. Extebarria ONCE                  		6.20
 5. Roland Meier (Switzerland) Post Swiss	7.06
 6. Nardello Mapei                     		7.36
 7. Felix Garcia Casas (Spain) Festina 		8.02
 8. Stefano Garzelli (Italy) Mercatone 		8.05
 9. Philipp Buschor (Switzerland) Saeco		8.14
10. Beat Zberg Mercatone               		9.19
11. Danny Nelissen (Netherlands) Rabobank	9.44
12. Felice Puttini (Switzerland) 		9.47
13. Leonardo Piepoli (Italy)     		
14. Bjarne Riis (Denmark)       	       10.02
15. Francesco Casagrande (Italy) 		s.t.

Stage 8 Report

Christophe Agnolutto cruised home in 22nd place to maintain a comfortable five minutes 14 second overall lead.

With just two stages remaining, Agnolutto looks certain to become the first Frenchman since 1935 to win the event.

Held in a steady downpour, Aldag slogged his way around the 174-km layout from Zug in four hours seven minutes 19 seconds, finishing a massive 57 seconds clear of compatriot and Telekom team mate Udo Boelts.

Dutchman Leon Van Bon was third a further four seconds adrift, leading a large sprint to the finish line.

It was the third stage win of the Tour for Aldag's Telekom team, underlining their superb form and determination to defend the Tour de France title, won last year by leader Bjarne Riis of Denmark.

Aldag, a double stage winner at the Tour of Romandie earlier this year, earned his third win of the season when he attacked and dropped five breakaway partners with about 25km to go, joining team mates Erik Zabel, one of the world's top sprinters, and Jan Ullrich, runner-up to Riis in the Tour de France, as stage winners.

Although Agnolutto finihed 1:57 behind the winner, he did not surrender any time to his nearest challengers in the overall rankings, maintaining his commanding advantage over second place Oskar Camenzind of Switzerland.

``The way the other riders look at me has changed,'' said Agnolutto. ``The big names come over to talk and congratulate me.

``I will be very disappointed if at the end of this Tour I don't succeed in bringing the yellow leader's jersey back to Zurich.''

If Agnolutto can survive Wednesday's pivotal ninth stage, a 193-km run from Wetzikon to Davos which includes a gruelling category one climb to the finish, he will have all but locked up the title.

The Tour concludes with an unchallenging 187-km dash into Zurich on Thursday.

Zulle confident

Zuelle, who broke his left collar-bone in a crash during a tricky descent in Sunday's sixth stage of the Tour of Switzerland, was examined by doctors at a hospital in Locarno then flown by private jet to Barcelona, where he underwent surgery.

The injury, which doctors described as ``small and complicated,'' needed a plate and 15 pins to repair.

The doctor who performed the surgery said the operation had been a success and it was possible that 1996 Tour of Spain champion Zuelle could race in the Tour de France, which begins on July 5.

Manolo Saiz, head of the ONCE team for whom Zuelle rides, said: ``We are 99 percent assured of Zuelle competing in the Tour de France.''

``I don't feel the least bit of pain,'' declared Zuelle, who also suffered a bad crash in the Dauphine Libere stage race earlier this month and has a long history of serious falls.

Stage 9, Davos-Wetzikon, 193 kms:

   1.  Camenzind Oskar          MAP      SUI  5:17:22
   2.  Ullrich Jan              TEL      GER  	 1:06
   3.  Piepoli Leonardo         REF      ITA
   4.  Garcia Casas Felix       FES      ESP   	 1:14
   5.  Garzelli Stefano         MER      ITA   	 2:05
   6.  Nelissen Danny           RAB      NED
   7.  Casagrande Francesco     SAE      ITA
   8.  Gontchar Serguej         AKI      UKR
   9.  Jaksche Jvrg             PLT      GER
  10.  Zberg Beat               MER      SUI
  11.  Faresin Gianni           MAP      ITA
  12.  Bvlts Udo                TEL      GER
  13.  Nardello Daniele         MAP      ITA
  14.  Extebarria Alkorta       ONC      ESP
  15.  Meier Roland             POS      SUI
  16.  Puttini Felice           REF      SUI
  17.  Buschor Philipp          SAE      SUI
  18.  Patuelli Andrea          AMO      ITA   	 2:53
  19.  Agnolutto Christophe     CSO      FRA
  20.  Luttenberger Peter       RAB      AUT

GC after Stage 9

  1.  Agnolutto        CSO     FRA    33:38:02
   2.  Camenzind        MAP     SUI    	   2:08
   3.  Ullrich Jan      TEL     GER    	   4:20
   4.  Extebarria       ONC     ESP    	   5:32
   5.  Meier Roland     POS     SUI    	   6:18
   6.  Garcia Casas     FES     ESP    	   6:22
   7.  Nardello         MAP     ITA    	   6:48
   8.  Garzelli         MER     ITA    	   7:17
   9.  Buschor          SAE     SUI    	   7:26
  10.  Piepoli          REF     ITA    	   7:56
  11.  Zberg Beat       MER     SUI    	   8:31
  12.  Nelissen         RAB     NED    	   8:56
  13.  Puttini          REF     SUI    	   8:59
  14.  Casagrande       SAE     ITA    	   9:14
  15.  Bvlts Udo        TEL     GER    	  11:17
  16.  Aldag Rolf       TEL     GER    	  15:12
  17.  Fois             MAP     ITA    	  18:07
  18.  Faresin          MAP     ITA    	  18:09
  19.  Jeker Fabian     FES     SUI    	  20:04
  20.  Elli Alberto     CSO     ITA    	  26:36

Stage 9 Reports

Camenzind, who began the 193-km stage from Wetzikon trailing Agnolutto by five minutes 14 seconds in the overall standiings, chopped over three minutes off the Frenchman's advantage with his second stage win.

But Camenzind's heroic effort is unlikely to be enough to prevent Agnolutto from becoming only the second French rider and first since 1935 to win the Swiss Tour.

Agnolutto will still carry a considerable 2:08 cushion into the 187-km final stage into Zurich, which should prove easy to protect with only one modest mid-stage climb.

``I heard Camenzind would not attack tomorrow and I think he is sincere,'' said Agnolutto. ``If I arrive in Zurich with the yellow jersey it will be the first time in my life that I will be happy being an average cyclist.

``I'm neither a roller, nor a climber, nor a sprinter but I manage everywhere.''

Knowing he had to attack, Camenzind made several attempts at breakaways, finally powering away alone on the descent after an exhausting final climb, 17-km from the finish which had fragmented the pack.

Fighting for each second, Camenzind sprinted across the finish line 1:06 in front of Germany's Jan Ullrich, who also made up considerable time on Agnolutto but remained solidly in third place in the overall rankings, 4:20 adrift.

``There would have to be some very extraordinary circumstances for me to get the yellow jersey,'' said Camenzind, who was rewarded with a new two-year contract after the stage from his team Mapei. Today I wasn't thinking of the general standings, I was just thinking about winning the stage.

``I will be less enterprising tomorrow.

``If Agnolutto wins, he would be a very deserving winner and I would be the first to congratulate him.

``But you must never say never.''

Ullrich's Telekom team mate, Dane Bjarne Riis, who will begin his defence of his Tour de France title on July 5, did not start stage, dropping out because of the flu.

Swiss Oskar Camenzind thundered to victory in the ninth stage of the Tour of Switzerland on Wednesday, setting up a final stage showdown with Christophe Agnolutto for the overall title. Camenzind, who began the 193-kilometer stage from Wetzikon trailing Agnolutto by 5:14 in the overall standiings, chopped over three minutes off the Frenchman's advantage with his second stage win.

But Camenzind's heroic effort is unlikely to be enough to prevent Agnolutto from becoming only the second French rider and first since 1935 to win the Swiss Tour. Agnolutto will still carry a considerable 2:08 cushion into the 187-kilometer final stage into Zurich, which should prove easy to protect with only one modest mid-stage climb. "I heard Camenzind would not attack tomorrow and I think he is sincere," said Agnolutto. "If I arrive in Zurich with the yellow jersey it will be the first time in my life that I will be happy being an average cyclist. I'm neither a roller, nor a climber, nor a sprinter but I manage everywhere." Knowing he had to attack, Camenzind made several attempts at breakaways, finally powering away alone on the descent after an exhausting final climb, 17-kilometer from the finish which had fragmented the pack.

Fighting for each second, Camenzind sprinted across the finish line 1:06 in front of Germany's Jan Ullrich, who also made up considerable time on Agnolutto but remained solidly in third place in the overall rankings, 4:20 adrift. "There would have to be some very extraordinary circumstances for me to get the yellow jersey," said Camenzind, who was rewarded with a new two-year contract after the stage from his team Mapei. Today I wasn't thinking of the general standings, I was just thinking about winning the stage. "I will be less enterprising tomorrow. "If Agnolutto wins, he would be a very deserving winner and I would be the first to congratulate him. "But you must never say never." Ullrich's Telekom team mate, Dane Bjarne Riis, who will begin his defense of his Tour de France title on July 5, did not start stage, dropping out because of the flu.

Stage 10, Davos-Zurich, 193 kms:

 1. Niki Aebersold (Switzerland)     4.09.51
 2. Mauro Bettin (Italy) 		s.t.
 3. Erik Zabel (Germany) 		0.08
 4. Fabio Baldato (Italy) 
 5. Tom Steels (Belgium) 
 6. Max Van Heeswijk (Netherlands) 
 7. Frankie Andreu (U.S.) 
 8. Fabrizio Guidi (Italy) 
 9. Lauri Aus (Germany) 
10. Markus Zberg (Germany) 
11. Rolf Huser (Switzerland) 
12. Rolf Aldag (Germany) 
13. Jon Odriozola (Spain) 
14. David Moncoutie (France) 
15. Dirk Baldinger (Germany) 	    all s.t.

Final GC

 1. Christophe Agnolutto (France) 37 hours 48 minutes one second 
 2. Oskar Camenzind (Switzerland) 2.08 behind 
 3. Jan Ullrich (Germany)         4.20
 4. David Extebarria (Spain)      5.32
 5. Roland Meier (Switzerland)    6.18
 6. Felix Garcia Casas (Spain)    6.22
 7. Daniele Nardello (Italy)      6.48
 8. Stefano Garzelli (Italy)      7.17
 9. Philipp Buschor (Switzerland) 7.26
10. Beat Zberg (Switzerland)      8.31
11. Danny Nelissen (Netherlands)  8.56
12. Felice Puttini (Switzerland)  8.59
13. Francesco Casagrande (Italy)  9.14
14. Udo Bolts (Germany)         11.17
15. Aldag 15.12 

Final Stage Report

The key to Agnolutto's win was last Thursday's third stage when he demolished the peloton with a brilliant solo effort, romping to victory over 11 minutes ahead of most of the field.

In the end, the 28-year-old second-year professional needed almost all of that advantage, his winning margin over Swiss Oskar Camenzind reduced to two minutes and eight seconds by the time he coasted across the finish line at the Oerlikon velodrome, hands punching the air in triumph.

Germany's Jan Ullrich, runner-up to Telekom team mate Bjarne Riis in last year's Tour de France, demonstrated his fitness ahead of this year's event, finishing a solid third, four minutes and 20 seconds adrift.

With his first major win, Agnolutto becomes only the second Frenchman and the first since Gaspard Rinaldi in 1935 to ride off with the Swiss title.

``Today when I got on to the oval at Oerlikon I was even happier than when I won my stage,'' Agnolutto said. ``Now I will look forward to the Tour de France where I will work at my maximum for my Casino team mates.''

The 10-day Tour ended the way it began with a Swiss rider winning the stage, Niki Aebersold outsprinting Italy's Mauro Bettin by a bike length to take the 193-km stage from Davos.

Aebersold had broken away with Bettin and Andrea Pattueli just three kilometres into the stage but posed no threat to Agnolutto's yellow jersey, the Frenchman content to remain in the pack and mark Camenzind, finishing in the main group eight seconds behind the winner.

Camenzind had caused Agnolutto a few anxious moments during Wednesday's ninth stage when he thundered to victory, chopping over three minutes off his lead. But the weary Swiss rider posed no threat in the final stage as rainy, cold conditions nullified any threat of a last-ditch attack.

``Only once did I try to attack today because I was so tired,'' said Camenzind, winner of two stages during the Swiss race. ``At the Tour de France I will aim to win some stages but not the overall.''