66th Tour de Suisse - 2.HC

Switzerland, June 18-27, 2002

Images by AFP

Alex Zulle (Team Coast) on his way to clocking the best time in the prologue of the Tour de Suisse in Luzern
Alex Zulle on the podium after winning the Tour de Suisse prologue

Andreas Oppliger took these pics around the finish area

Ivan Basso (Fassa Bortolo) takes a drink
German devil Didi Senft popped over the border for the Tour de Suisse.
The finish area in a beautiful lakeside setting
Sascha Henrix (Coast) close to the finish
Urs Studer Mayor of Lucerne, Guido Graf head of the local organization board and Margrit Lussi are very satisfied with the prologue in Lucerne
Young Swiss rider Roman Peter (Oktos) gives an interview
Swiss former hour record holder Tony Rominger's post-racing career includes being involved with the organisation of his national tour
Steve Zampieri (Tacconi Sport) warms up
Someone call the abandoned Telekom TT bike hotline
Alex Zulle demonstrates his gurning skills for the TV cameras
Alex Zulle waits on the podium
Alex Zulle on the podium with the organisers and the mayor

Images by AFP

A spectator sprays water on the riders during a very hot stage 1
Eddy Lembo (Saint-Quentin Oktos) celebrates the moment of victory
Eddy Lembo (Saint-Quentin Oktos) savours the moment as he crosses the line
Eddy Lembo (Saint-Quentin Oktos) winks at the camera from the podium
Alex Zulle (Coast) wipes his face after the stage in which he was bumped to second place by Lembo's victory

Images by AFP

Eddy Lembo (St Quentin Oktos) pulls on his second yellow jersey after retaining the lead in the second stage
Erik Zabel (Telekom, L) just beats Sven Teutenberg (Phonak, C) to win the second stage of the Tour de Suisse

Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) on his way to winning stage 3
Alex Zulle (Team Coast) and Laurent Dufaux (Alessio) lead the chase of Vinokourov
Pavel Tonkov and Piotr Wadecki try to keep up with Zulle and Dufaux
Francesco Casagrande (Fassa Bortolo) finished 5 minutes down
Bobby Julich (Telekom) not enjoying the rain
Guiseppe Guerini (Telekom) rides during stage 3
Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) wins the rain soaked finale to Samnaun
Alex Zulle (R) and Laurent Dufaux (L) cross for second and third place behind Vinokourov
Pavel Tonkov (R), Peter Luttenberger (L) and Piotr Wadecki (C) cross for 4th to 6th place.
Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) holds up one of his prizes for winning the third stage of the Tour de Suisse

Images by AFP

Alex Zulle (Coast) leads the pack on his way to regaining the lead of the Tour de Suisse
Alex Zulle (Coast) sticks his tongue out as he rides with Danilo Di Luca (Saeco) and a Mapei rider on their way to the Fluelapass
Alexander Vinokourov (Telekom) claims the win

Daniele Nardello (Mapei) and Leon Van Bon (Domo) during their breakaway
Steve Zampieri (Tacconi) and Alexandre Moos (Phonak) lead the charge behind Van Bon and Nardello
Steve Zampieri (Tacconi) gives it everything to try and catch the two leaders
Aleksandr Shefer (Alessio) leads the peloton with all the favourites
Laurent Dufaux (Alessio) and Alex Zulle (Team Coast)
Alex Zulle (Team Coast) working hard in the peloton
Gianluca Bortolami (Tacconi) suffering on the final climb
Leon van Bon wins the fourth stage
Erik Zabel (Telekom) leads the bunch home for 6th place
Alex Zulle after the stage
Leon van Bon smiles on the podium
Alex Zulle smiles on the podium

Images by AFP

Leon Van Bon leads Daniele Nardello during their great escape
Leon Van Bon (Domo-Farm Frites, L) rides next to Daniele Nardello (Mapei, C) and Didi Senft (Hades, R)
Dutchman Leon Van Bon raises his arms as he crosses the finish line in Ambri to win the fourth stage
Leon Van Bon celebrates his victory in the fourth stage of the Tour de Suisse
Overall leader Alex Zuelle (Team Coast) adjusts his cap on the podium in Ambri

Ivan Basso (Fassa Bortolo) leads the way during stage 5
Alexandre Moos about to be caught by the Wadecki/Vinokourov/Dufaux trio
Alexandre Vinokourov with Laurent Dufaux
Alex Zulle in the company of Casagrande
Piotr Wadecki (Domo) and Laurent Dufaux (Alessio) near the top of the Sustenpass
Laurent Dufaux on the Sustenpass
Alex Zulle closes in on Piotr Wadecki and Laurent Dufaux on the Sustenpass
Alex Zulle in pursuit mode
Alex Zulle in pursuit mode
Alex Zulle concentrates on bridging the gap
Alex Zulle within 20 metres of Vinokourov, Dufaux and Wadecki
Alexandre Moos (Phonak) just behind Zulle
Francesco Casagrande (Fassa Bortolo) in pursuit of the leaders
Georg Totschnig (Gerolsteiner) in great pain
Peter Luttenberger (Tacconi) in great pain
Giuseppe Di Grande (Index Alexia) trying to stay with the second group
Francesco Casagrande leads the charge in the second bunch
Pavel Tonkov (Lampre) lost time on the Sustenpass but was able to come back
Gerhard Trampusch (Mapei-Quick Step) trying desparately to catch the leaders
Daniele Nardello on the Sustenpass
Guiseppe Guerini (Telekom) having a tough time
Steve Zampieri (Tacconi) makes his way up the Sustenpass
Miguel Martinez (Mapei) in suffer mode
Santos Gonzalez Capilla (Acqua e Sapone) grits his teeth
Mirko Celestino (Saeco) on the Sustenpass
Fans cheer the riders on up the Sustenpass
The gruppetto, led by Team Coast
Snow on the Sustenpass
The peloton passes by on the Sustenpass
The peloton passes by on the Sustenpass, cheered on by fans

Images by AFP

Francesco Casagrande (Fassa Bortolo) and Alex Zulle (Team Coast) ride during the fifth stage of the Tour de Suisse
Francesco Casagrande was very happy about winning stage 5
Francesco Casagrande sticks his tongue out as he wins stage 5
Alex Zulle sticks his tongue out on the podium after stage 5

Images by AFP

Alex Zulle (Team Coast) rides next to Nicolas Fritsch (FDJ) as they perpare for the final climb of stage 6
Swiss Alexandre Moos (Phonak) rides past the spectators before crossing the finish line of the 6th stage for victory
Alexandre Moos (Phonak) crosses the finish line in Verbier as the victor

Images by AFP

The peloton ride by the castle of Chillon, near Montreux, Switzerland, during the 170.9 km seventh stage from Martigny to Vevey
The Coast team control the proceedings during the seventh stage
Eventual winner of the stage, Juan Manuel Garate (Lampre, L), looks at Gianluca Bortolami (Tacconi, R) who crossed the finish line first but was disqualified due to irregularities at the final sprint
Gianluca Bortolami (Tacconi) crosses the finish line first but was later disqualified
Alex Zulle (Team Coast) kissed on the podium after retaining his leader's jersey in the seventh stage of the Tour de Suisse

Images by AFP

Erik Zabel (Telekom) crosses the line to win the eighth stage of the Tour de Suisse in front of Sven Teutenberg (Phonak, R) and Andrej Hauptman (Tacconi, L)
Alex Zulle on the podium in yellow for what he hopes is the second last time in the Tour de Suisse