Tour de Romandie - PT

Switzerland, April 26-May 1, 2005

Photography

Prologue - April 26: Geneva, 3.4km
Stage 1 - April 27: Avenches - Avenches, 166.9km
Stage 2 - April 28: Fleurier - Fleurier, 171.9km
Stage 3 - April 29: Aigle - Anzère, 146.5km
Stage 4 - April 30: Châtel-St-Denis - Les Paccots, 150.2km
Stage 5 - May 1: Lausanne Time Trial, 20.4km

Stage 5 - May 1: Lausanne Time Trial, 20.4km

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Images by Anthony Tan/Cyclingnews

Signing on for a day of torture.
Joseba Beloki (Liberty Seguros) just can't seem to get going again, today finishing second-last.
Francisco Mancebo (Illes Balears) in a hurry to be somewhere.
Bradley McGee (La Francaise des Jeux) experienced a welcome reversal of form today, finishing second to Botero.
Erik Dekker (Rabobank) had a solid ride today, finishing in 21st place.
Riders passed through the centre of Lausanne on their way to the finish.
A need for speed.
Pieter Weening (Rabobank) wasn't really enjoying himself today.
With two tough, cobbled climbs, stronger riders often passed their minute men.
Olympic silver medallist Sergio Paulinho (Liberty Seguros) finished 23rd.
Jurgen Van Den Broeck was Discovery Channel's best-placed rider in 14th place.
The only way is up.
The lil'uns had mixed feelings about today's stage.
David Moncoutie (Cofidis) was one of the fastest riders up the cobbled climbs, but only managed 18th place in the end.
Three cheers for this La Francaise des Jeux rider.
Thomas Dekker (Rabobank) was the best of the neo-pros, finishing sixth.
This Fassa Bortolo rider gives it his all.
Playing the pain game.
Jorg Jaksche (Liberty Seguros) en route to 22nd place.
Oscar Pereiro (Phonak) rode brilliantly to finish third and move into seventh overall.
Miguel Perdiguero (Phonak) slipped a few spots after a less than satisfactory performance.
Mountains leader Ruben Lobato (Saunier Duval) had a particularly ordinary ride to finish in 97th place, but still kept his mountains jersey.
Aitor Osa (Illes Balears) slipped outside the top 10 after a poor TT ride.
Alexandre Moos (Phonak) was the best Swiss rider, moving from eighth to sixth overall.
Manuel Beltran (Discovery Channel) finished a disappointing 50th place, doing the exact opposite of Moos in terms of GC.
Daniel Atienza (Cofidis) didn't have a good ride either, slipping from sixth to ninth place.
Denis Menchov (Rabobank) held onto his third place overall, but only just, finishing four seconds ahead of Alberto Contador.
Santiago Botero (Phonak) en route to the stage win and overall victory in the Tour de Romandie.
Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Cafitta) did everything he could to keep his race lead, but fourth place wasn't quite good enough today.
The face of a winner and a man reborn - Tour de Romandie victor Santiago Botero.

Images by AFP Photo

Santiago Botero (Phonak) gives it the works
Santiago Botero (Phonak) gets the winner's kiss
Santiago Botero (Phonak) with his trophies on the podium
Santi Botero has a big grin and rightly so
The final podium: Denis Menchov (3rd), Santiago Botero (1st) and Damiano Cunego (2nd)
Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Caffita) rides in the yellow jersey during the final stage time trial
Stefano Garzelli (Liquigas-Bianchi) finished in the points jersey
Ruben Lobato (Saunier Duval) scored the mountains jersey, but no podium girls

Stage 4 - April 30: Châtel-St-Denis - Les Paccots, 150.2km

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Images by Anthony Tan/Cyclingnews

There's the big cheese - but where's Lance?
Riders roll out of Les Paccots at the start.
Jorg Jaksche (Liberty Seguros) leads a small group the first time up Châtel-St-Denis.
But the peloton weren't far behind.
Lampre-Cafitta set the tempo at the head of the peloton.
The second ascension of Châtel-St-Denis saw David Moncoutie (Cofidis) and Beat Zberg (Gerolsteiner) ride away from the remnants of the earlier break.
Trailing this pair was Erik Dekker (Rabobank) and José Luis Arieta (Iles Baleares).
In atypical fashion, Erik Dekker (Rabobank) has found himself in the sprint leader's jersey.
The younger Dekker, Thomas, was not far behind his namesake, and bridged the gap with Rubens Bertogliati (Saunier Duval-Prodir) on the climb of Les Paccots.
The Phonak team did a great job keeping things under control.
These riders were happy to stay at the back of the Phonak and Lampre-led peloton.
Alberto Contador (Liberty Seguros) takes his fourth pro win of 2005 in style, while Leonardo Piepoli (Saunier Duval-Prodir) not too far behind.
Yeeesss!!!
Oh what a feeling! (Those who have seen the Toyota ad will get this joke.)
Leonardo Piepoli (Saunier Duval-Prodir) knows a stage win would most certainly have been his if it wasn't for Contador.
Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Caffita) takes a close sprint for third place from Stefano Garzelli (Liquigas-Bianchi).
Cunego's five second bonus for third place put him into the race leader's jersey.
Martin Perdiguero (Phonak) was next to come in, 11 seconds down on Contador.
Marco Fertonani (Domina Vacanze, L) took the sprint for eighth from Aitor Osa (Iles Baleares).
Daniel Atienza (Cofidis) finished just outside the top 10 in eleventh place.
A tough day in the saddle for Discovery Channel's Manuel Beltran.
Laurent Brochard (Bouygues Telecom) was the best-placed Frenchman in 13th place.
At 37 years of age, French fans are pondering who will take Brochard's place at the top of the cycling tree when he retires.
Time for reflection. Or maybe just a rest.
Time for Steve Zampieri (Phonak) to find the team car, a shower, massage, dinner and bed.
Ooh, look what I've got here!
Stage winner Alberto Contador (Liberty Seguros) likes his present. A lot.
Alberto Contador (Liberty Seguros) on the dais.
Now it's Damiano Cunego's turn as the new race leader of the Tour de Romandie.
Damiano prefers blondes - it's not hard to tell which of the podium girls Cunego prefers.

Images by AFP Photo

Alberto Contador (Liberty) beats Leonardo Piepoli (Saunier Duval) to win stage 4
Alberto Contador (Liberty) celebrates as he wins the 4th stage
Damiano Cunego (Lampre) wasn't sure about taking the lead, but he didn't shy away in the final sprint
Damiano Cunego (Lampre) now in yellow, for a day at least…

Stage 3 - April 29: Aigle - Anzère, 146.5km

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Images by AFP Photo

Damiano Cunego (Lampre) shows some of that Giro winning form by taking out the third stage of the Tour de Romandie
Damiano Cunego (Lampre) seems to have his attention directed elsewhere
Santiago Botero (Phonak) finds himself in the very pleasant position of being the race leader
Santiago Botero (Phonak) back to his best in Switzerland

Images by Anthony Tan/Cyclingnews

Francesco Bellotti (Credit Agricole) leads the break down the descent after the first passage of Anzère.
Ruben Lobato (Saunier Duval) and Erik Dekker (Rabobank) were just behind Bellotti.
The Phonak team lead the chase.
And this CSC rider doesn't.
Some stragglers knew they still had to ride reasonably hard to make the time cut.
It's a one-man sprint to the line for Damiano Cunego.
Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Cafitta) wins the stage, with Denis Menchov second.
Confirmation for Cunego.
Denis Menchov (Rabobank) rode himself into third overall.
Santiago Botero (Phonak) finished four second behind Cunego, and did enough to take the race lead.
Ruben Lobato (Saunier Duval-Prodir) was the last of the breakaways to be caught, and still managed to finish in 12th place.
A smiling Santiago Botero, now in the leader's yellow jersey.
Kisses for the new race leader.
Ruben Lobato (Saunier Duval-Prodir) tries on the mountains jersey for size.
Erik Dekker (Rabobank) became the new leader of the sprints classification.
Blowing their own trumpets.

Stage 2 - April 28: Fleurier - Fleurier, 171.9km

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Images by AFP Photo

Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) beats Daniele Colli (Liquigas) to win stage 2 of the Tour de Romandie
Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) raises his arms as he wins stage 2
Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) on the podium in the leader's jersey

Stage 1 - April 27: Avenches - Avenches, 166.9km

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Images by Saunier Duval

Ivan Ravaioli (Saunier Duval) tries to stay away from the peloton during stage 1

Images by AFP Photo

Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) beats Tom Steels to comfortably win the first stage of the Tour de Romandie
Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) on the podium after his win

Prologue - April 26: Geneva, 3.4km

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Images by AFP Photo

Oscar Pereiro (Phonak) sets out from the start house
Oscar Pereiro (Phonak) crosses the line to win the prologue
Oscar Pereiro (Phonak) on the podium after winning the prologue