67th Tour de Suisse- 2.HC

Switzerland, June 16-25, 2003

Photography

Prologue - June 16: Egerkingen ITT, 7.1 km
Stage 1 - June 17: Egerkingen - Le Locle, 163 km
Stage 2 - June 18: Murten - Nyon, 175 km
Stage 3 - June 19: Nyon - Saas Fee, 205 km
Stage 4 - June 20: Visp - Losone, 168 km
Stage 5 - June 21: Ascona - La Punt, 178 km
Stage 6 - June 22: Silvaplana - Silvaplana, 135 km
Stage 7 - June 23: Savognin - Oberstaufen(D), 231 km
Stage 8 - June 24: Gossau - Gossau (ZH), 33 km
Stage 9 - June 25: Stäfa - Aarau, 152 km

Prologue - June 16: Egerkingen ITT, 7.1 km

Images by Markus Zimmerli/www.CycleSearch.ch

A Bianchi rider puts on the gas
A CCC-Polsat rider leans into a corner
No, the hill isn't quite that steep
The zebra stripes of Domina Vacanze-Elitron
A Lotto-Domo rider heading for home
Fassa Bortolo will be happy with the leaders jersey
A tired looking FDJeux.com rider near the end of the stage
Phonak Hearing Systems finished the stage at the top of the teams listing
A Saeco rider pushing his Cannondale to the limit
A Team Telekom rider leans into the corner
Fabian Cancellara (Fassa Bortol) on the podium

Stage 1 - June 17: Egerkingen - Le Locle, 163 km

Images by AFP

Alexandre Vinokourov (Team Telekom) crosses the line on his own, foiling the sprinters' plans in a difficult uphill finish in Le Locle.
Alexandre Vinokourov (Team Telekom) celebrates his stage victory on the podium.

Images by Markus Zimmerli/www.CycleSearch.ch

Onya mate! Markus Zberg (Gerolsteiner) congratulates Fabian Cancellara on his win in yesterday's prologue.
Big smile from a Domina Vacanze rider.
Francesco Casagrande (Lampre) receives some last minute advice from his directeur sportif.
Robbie McEwen (Lotto-Domo) looking relaxed at the start in Egerkingen.
Time to catch up with old friends at during the first kilometres.
Plenty of leg stretching going on as the peloton make their way out of the town of Egerkingen.
Geez fellas, life as a pro cyclist isn't that bad, is it?
Cool as a Kazah - Alexandre Vinokourov (Team Telekom) soaks up the atmosphere before outfoxing all to claim the stage win and leader's jersey.

Stage 2 - June 18: Murten - Nyon, 175 km

Images by AFP

Robbie McEwen (Lotto-Domo) wins the second stage of the Tour de Suisse
Robbie McEwen (Lotto-Domo) raises his arms as he beats Julian Dean (CSC) to win stage 2
Robbie McEwen (Lotto-Domo) on the podium with his winner's bouquet
Alexandre Vinokourov (Team Telekom) is kissed on the podium in the leader's jersey

Stage 3 - June 19: Nyon - Saas Fee, 205 km

Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

The peloton approaching the final climb of Saas Fee
The main bunch at the foot of the final climb
The peloton heads into the high mountains of Switzerland
Sven Montgomery (Fassa Bortolo) leads Kim Kirchen and Alexandre Vinokourov behind Casagrande
Alex Zulle leads Brad McGee and Wladimir Belli behind Vinokourov's group
Alex Zulle had his Phonak team working hard today
Bradley McGee (FDJeux.com) rode very well to hold onto third overall
Wladimir Belli (Lampre) and Giuseppe Guerini (Telekom) both finished top 10
Paolo Bettini (Quick.Step) was one of the early attackers on the climb
Italian champion Salvatore Commesso (Saeco) finished a good 25th at 2'12
Daniele Nardello (Telekom) had a hard time today
Australian champion Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole) was cool as a cucumber on today's finishing climb of the Tour de Suisse
Rik Verbrugghe (Lotto-Domo) lost 7'13 on the climb
Dario Frigo (Fassa Bortolo) finished a modest 68th at 10'22 down
Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) was able to limit the damage to Casagrande by following the three Fassa Bortolo riders to the finish
Francesco Casagrande (Lampre) struggled with the heat and the gradient, but was strong enough to win today
Francesco Casagrande (Lampre) en route to victory in Saas Fee
Francesco Casagrande (Lampre) salutes as he wins the third stage
Tongue out, arms raised Francesco Casagrande wins stage 3
Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) finished third, just in front of Montgomery
Ondrej Sosenka (CCC-Polsat) leads a group home for 12th place
Jan Ullrich (Team Bianchi) shortly after the stage finish
Robbie McEwen (Lotto-Domo) cools off
Francesco Casagrande (Lampre) on the podium after winning stage 3
Francesco Casagrande (Lampre) on the podium after winning stage 3
Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) on the podium after maintaining his leader's jersey
Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) gets a podium kiss
Francesco Casagrande (Lampre) took over the mountains jersey

Images by AFP Photo

Francesco Casagrande (Lampre) wins the third stage in Saas Fee
Francesco Casagrande (Lampre) congratulated on the podium after his win
Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) held onto yellow by just six seconds

Stage 4 - June 20: Visp - Losone, 168 km

Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

He likes the colour - Alexandre Vinokourov was very relaxed before the start of stage 4
Jan Ullrich (Bianchi) descends the stage after sign on
Jan Ullrich (Bianchi) strikes a pose
The world looks better through these, according to Ullrich
Jan Ullrich (Bianchi) has seen this fan somewhere before...
Jan Ullrich (Bianchi) looking extremely fit
The two leaders make their way up the Nufenenpass
Filippo Simeoni (Domina Vacanze) leads Sandy Casar (FDJeux.com) on the Nufenenpass
Simeoni and Casar during their long escape
Paolo Bettini (Quick.Step) was a couple of minutes ahead of the peloton on the climb
Paolo Bettini (Quick.Step) in action during stage 4
Despite the heat of summer there was plenty of snow to be found on the 2478m high Nufenenpass
The leading part of the peloton nearing the top of the Nufenenpass
More high mountains had to be tackled by the peloton today
The peloton cruising up the Nufenenpass
Wladimir Belli (Lampre) leads the peloton up the Nufenenpass
Francesco Casagrande (Lampre) climbs in front of Alexandre Vinokourov during stage 4
Sven Montgomery (Fassa Bortolo) climbs in front of Alexandre Vinokourov during stage 4
Francesco Casagrande (Lampre) concentrates hard on the climb, wearing the black KOM jersey
The Lotto-Domo bus paces Robbie McEwen up the Nufenenpass
Sandy Casar (FDJeux.com) in action during stage 4
Kim Kirchen raised his arms too early and was beaten by Sandy Casar (L) on the line
Sandy Casar (FDJeux.com, L) gets it on the line while Kim Kirchen (R) can't believe he made such a stupid mistake
Sandy Casar (FDJeux.com) moments after winning
Sandy Casar (FDJeux.com) waves his bouquet from the podium
Jan Ullrich (Bianchi) at the end of another hot day
Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) is still happy to be in yellow

Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

Markus Zberg (Gerolsteiner) climbing the Nufenenpass
Oscar Camenzind (Phonak) descends in front of Jan Ullrich (Bianchi) during stage 4 of the Tour de Suisse
Sandy Casar (FDJeux.com, L) gets it on the line while Kim Kirchen's victory salute turned into one of defeat

Stage 5 - June 21: Ascona - La Punt, 178 km

Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

It was quite a spectacle for fans watching the fifth stage of the Tour de Suisse
Francesco Casagrande (Lampre) deep in concentration during his winning ride
Race leader Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) had to concede time to Casagrande today
Plenty of support for Swiss champ Alexandre Moos (Phonak)
Alexandre Moos (Phonak) leads Sven Montgomery up the Albulapass
Tadej Vlajavec (Fassa Bortolo) finished fifth today
Sandy Casar (FDJeux.com) and Wladimir Belli (Lampre) were just off the pace on the Albulapass
Sandy Casar (FDJ) and Wladimir Belli (Lampre) lead the second main group up
Alex Zulle (Phonak, R) had to be paced by teammates Niki Aebersold (C) and Oscar Camenzind (L) on the Albulapass in stage 5, and lost time
Oscar Camenzind (L) and Niki Aebersold (R) had to pace Alex Zulle up the final climb
Jan Ullrich (Team Bianchi) is not at his best climbing form yet, losing nearly 3'00 to Casagrande
Tobias Steinhauser (L) follows Gerhard Trampusch on the Albulapass
Piotr Przydzial (CCC-Polsat) struggles up the Albulapass
Bobby Julich (Telekom, R) did another good job today for Vinokourov
Paolo Bettini (Quick.Step) was caught by Casagrande and Vinokourov, and had to climb at his own pace
The Telekom team having finished their work, take it easy to the top of the climb
Markus Zberg (Gerolsteiner) was dropped by Bettini and Schnider, and had to ascend the climb on his own
Brad McGee (FDJeux.com) suffers on the Albulapass
The peloton makes its way up the Albulapass in stage 5
The riders are dwarfed by the massive Swiss mountains
A group further back containing Stuart O'Grady (CA) ascends the Albulapass
Francesco Casagrande (Lampre) wins the fifth stage in La Punta
Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) crossed in second place, 39 seconds behind Casagrande
Alexandre Moos (Phonak) wins the sprint for 3rd from Guerini (R)
Sven Montgomery (Fassa Bortolo) worked hard for his 6th spot
Sandy Casar (FDJ) leads a group home for 9th place
Jan Ullrich (Team Bianchi) looked satisfied with another day's effort
Alex Zulle (Phonak) didn't have the best of days, finishing 17th at 3'14
Francesco Casagrande (Lampre) now has the yellow leader's jersey
Casagrande really wanted the jersey today

Images by Martin Appel

Francesco Casagrande (Lampre) takes the stage victory and the leader's jersey.
Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) fights to keep his leader's jersey.
Swiss champion Alexandre Moos (Phonak), Guiseppe Guerini (Telekom) and Tadej Valjavec (Fassa Bortolo).
Kim Kirchen (Fassa Bortolo) takes the corner hard on his way to seventh place.
Severyn Pohut (Polsat) on his way to a top 10 finish.
Sinkewitz (Quick.Step Davitamon), Ullrich (Bianchi), Brozyna and Sosenka (CCC-Polsat), Belli (Lampre) and Casar (Phonak) all fighting for 9th place.
Gerhard Trampusch (Gerolsteiner).
Phonak riders Niki Aebersold, Oscar Camenzind and Daniel Schnider guide their captain Alex Zülle home.
Gustav Larssen (Fassa Bortolo).
Yohann Charpenteau (Credit Agricole) takes the final corner before he crosses the finish line.
Bekim Christensen (CSC) and Bobby Julich (Telekom) prepare themselves to sprint for the minor placings.
A combination of 'Pro' and 'Team Issue' FSA carbon cranks on CSC's Cervelos.
Uwe Peschel's Wilier, equipped with the new Shimano Dura-Ace 10 speed group.
Uwe Peschel's cockpit consists of a Shimano Flight Deck computer and stage information stuck on the stem.
Jan Ullrich's 'Lightweight' full carbon wheel safely stowed away after the mountain stage.
The Dura-Ace 10 speed group also featured on Credit Agricole's Look bikes.
CCC-Polsat riders were fitted with the lightweight 'Free Spirit' crank for today's mountain stage.
Francesco Casagrande (Lampre) receives his reward from his wife after a great stage victory.

Stage 6 - June 22: Silvaplana - Silvaplana, 135 km

Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

Wladimir Belli (Lampre) paces leader Francesco Casagrande during the sixth stage of the Tour de Suisse
Francesco Casagrande (Lampre) was cool, calm and collected during the sixth stage
Francesco Casagrande (Lampre) accelerated on the final climb, but couldn't shake the rest of the group
Oscar Pereiro (Phonak) crosses the line in Silvaplana to win stage 6

Images by AFP Photo

Jan Ullrich (Bianchi) leads the front group on the Julierpass
Oscar Pereiro (Phonak) celebrates his win in the sixth stage
Oscar Pereiro (Phonak) celebrates on the podium
Francesco Casagrande (Lampre) celebrates in yellow

Stage 7 - June 23: Savognin - Oberstaufen(Ger), 231 km

Images by AFP Photo

Crossing the Swiss-German border during the seventh stage of the Tour de Suisse between Savognin and Oberstaufen
The peloton gets a spray of cooling water during the long, hot seventh stage of the Tour de Suisse
Sergei Yakovlev (Telekom) celebrates as he crosses the line to win stage 7
Sergei Yakovlev (Telekom) triumphs in the seventh stage of the Tour de Suisse
Sergei Yakovlev (Telekom) salutes from the podium after his stage win
Francesco Casagrande (Lampre) maintained his leader's jersey today, despite an attack from Vinokourov

Stage 8 - June 24: Gossau - Gossau (ZH), 33 km

Images by AFP Photo

Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) powered back into the Tour de Suisse lead
Aussie Brad McGee was the strongest on the challenging time trial course
All smiles for Vinokourov, back in yellow

Stage 9 - June 25: Stäfa - Aarau, 152 km

Images by AFP Photo

Baden Cooke celebrates his stage 9 victory
Alexandre Vinokourov gets set to party
The final podium (l to r): Giuseppe Guerini, Alexandre Vinokourov, Oscar Pereiro