69th Tour de Suisse - PT

Switzerland, June 11-19, 2005

Photography

Stage 1 - June 11: Schaffhausen - Weinfelden, 170 km
Stage 2 - June 12: Weinfelden - Weinfelden ITT, 36 km
Stage 3 - June 13: Abtwil/Säntispark - St. Anton a.A., 154 km
Stage 4 - June 14: Vaduz FL - Bad Zurzach, 208 km
Stage 5 - June 15: Bad Zurzach - Altdorf UR, 172.4 km
Stage 6 - June 16: Bürglen UR - Arosa, 158.7 km
Stage 7 - June 17: Einsiedeln - Lenk, 193 km
Stage 8 - June 18: Lenk - Verbier, 165 km
Stage 9 - June 19: Ulrichen - Ulrichen, 100 km

Stage 9 - June 19: Ulrichen - Ulrichen, 100 km

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Images by Anthony Tan/Cyclingnews.com

• "Welcome to the Hotel California... " Why does this song always pop up in every town, city and village around the world?
• Race leader Michael Rogers (Quick.Step) looking understandably a little nervous before the start.
• "If you ride this, it'll be good training for the Tour!" Cadel Evans (Davitamon-Lotto) just resists the opportunity to do 3,500 metres of climbing on a penny-farthing.
• Smacking the barriers is all part of the finish-line frenzy.
• Aitor Gonzalez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) drives it to the line.
• Aitor Gonzalez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) warms up the shoulder for a victory salute.
• Yeaah! The stage and overall winner of the Tour de Suisse, Aitor Gonzalez (Euskaltel-Euskadi).
• The Michael Rogers fan club cheers on their man, whose group's about 15 seconds away.
• Frank Schleck (Team CSC) comes in for second place.
• Daniel Atienza (Cofidis) takes a rather cheeky third.
• Michael Rogers (Quick.Step) looks like he knows he's lost the jersey, with Chris Horner (Saunier Duval) right behind him.
• Aitor Gonzalez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) makes his way to the podium.
• Aitor Gonzalez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) tells how the race was won.
• Aitor Gonzalez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) on the podium.
• "I see a bright future for you and me, baby…"
• It's a tight fit, but Aitor Gonzalez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) is only too happy to wear it.
• Aitor Gonzalez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) accepts his race winner's trophy.
• Aitor Gonzalez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) gets smooched.
• Bradley McGee (Française Des Jeux) finishes the race as leader on points.
• Bradley McGee (Française Des Jeux) cracked a little on the last day, but can be satisfied with a good Tour de Suisse.
• Michael Rogers (Quick.Step) poses with his wife-to-be, Alessia.
• "Oh c'mon, it isn't all bad!" Roger's fiancee Alessia gives a disappointed Mick some support.
• Race over - time to pack up.

Images by AFP Photo

• Patrik Sinkewitz (Quick.Step) leads the bunch on the first climb
• Rogers keeps an eye on Ullrich
• Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) grits his teeth
• Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) grabs a musette
• Cristian Moreni leading Rogers on the Gotthardpass
• The peloton snakes its way up the Gotthardpass
• Spectators watch the action on the Gotthardpass
• Aitor Gonzalez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) puts the pressure on Rogers
• Aitor Gonzalez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) away alone
• Michael Rogers (Quick.Step) leads Ullrich and Guerini

Stage 8 - June 18: Lenk - Verbier, 165 km

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Images by Anthony Tan/Cyclingnews.com

• A high-altitude soccer game takes place on the penultimate Cat. 4 climb at Kirche, seemingly oblivious to the Tour de Suisse cycling race about to pass through.
• The best seat in the house - 45 minutes before the finish of today's stage, the cable cars have stopped to give some well-paying spectators a bird's eye view of the finale, as they hang 50 metres from the finish line in Verbier.
• Calling the race for Swiss TV channel TSI.
• Pablo Lastras (Illes Balears) acknowledges his sponsors at the line in Verbier. That'll be 1,000 extra Euros for you!
• Pablo Lastras (Illes Balears) eventually does the standard victory salute.
• Pablo Lastras (Illes Balears) tries to get the crowd going.
• Yeeeah!
• Walter Beneteau (Bouyges Telecom) comes in for fifth place.
• Frank Schleck (Team CSC) leads the yellow jersey group home to take eighth.
• That hurt.
• Pablo Lastras (Illes Balears) a happy camper.
• Sometimes putting on the yellow jersey is the hardest thing at the end of a mountain stage.
• Michael Rogers (Quick.Step-Innergetic) seems to find this part a bit easier.
• Mountains leader Bradley McGee (Française Des Jeux) has a similarly difficult time.
• Bradley McGee (Française Des Jeux) said he went shopping today and came home with a handful of hurt bags.

Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

• The UCI centre in Aigle
• The UCI velodrome in Aigle
• Pablo Lastras (Illes Balears) en route to victory
• Carlos Barredo (Liberty Seguros) chasing Lastras
• Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner) on his own
• Aitor Gonzalez (Euskaltel) mowing down his opponents
• Walter Beneteau (Bouyges Telecom) fights his way up the final climb
• Rogers trying to limit the damage to Aitor Gonzalez
• Michael Rogers (Quick.Step-Innergetic) leads his group in pursuit of Aitor Gonzalez
• Daniele Righi (Lampre) was part of the early break
• Daniele Righi (Lampre) wonders how he does that. That's right, he's the Devil.
• Just in case you forgot where we are
• Niki Aebersold (Phonak) missed out today
• McGee and Horner really suffering
• Horner tries to hang on
• Georg Totschnig (Gerolsteiner) in the hurt box
• Beat Zberg (Gerolsteiner) protecting his top 10 GC place
• Daniele Nardello (T-Mobile) looking forward to the finish
• Cadel Evans (Davitamon-Lotto) with Giuseppe Guerini
• Tadej Valjavec (Phonak) wasn't too good today
• I'll take you on, anytime. Come ON!!
• Alexandre Moos (Phonak) on the final climb
• Roberto Laiseka (Euskaltel) is the mountains leader
• Iban Mayo (Euskaltel) finished top 30
• Jens Voigt (CSC) suffers on the last climb
• Bobby Julich (CSC) leads a group up for 31st
• Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) en route to 35th
• Laurent Brochard (Bouygues Telecom) fights his way to the finish
• Laurent Brochard (Bouygues Telecom) hasn't been one of the main players in the Tour de Suisse
• Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom)
• There's a lot of air in there
• Pablo Lastras (Illes Balears) crosses the line to win
• Pablo Lastras (Illes Balears) celebrates
• Carlos Barredo (Liberty Seguros) finishes second
• Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner) hurts a lot as he finishes third
• Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner) went deep
• The TerminAitor is back
• Walter Beneteau (Bouyges Telecom) zips up as he finishes 5th
• Frank Schleck (Team CSC) leads the Rogers group
• Michael Rogers (Quick.Step-Innergetic) comes in for 10th
• Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) finishes in the Rogers group
• Leonardo Piepoli (Saunier Duval) finishes in the Rogers group
• Chris Horner (Saunier Duval) finishes painfully
• Chris Horner (Saunier Duval) after a hard day
• That hurt. Horner recovers.
• Chris Horner (Saunier Duval) chooses a quick way to cool down
• Roberto Laiseka (Euskaltel) leads home Iban Mayo and Jens Voigt
• Vincenzo Nibali (Fassa Bortolo) finishes
• Where do we go from here?
• The bus stops here
• T-Mobile leads the bus up to the finish
• Leonardo Piepoli (Saunier Duval) after the finish
• The face of Daniele Nardello (T-Mobile)
• Giuseppe Guerini (T-Mobile) after the finish
• Daniele Nardello (T-Mobile) feeling the cold?
• Daniele Nardello (T-Mobile) rehydrates
• Nardello and Guerini after the finish
• Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) slips into something more comfortable
• Alexandre Moos (Phonak) after the finish
• Pablo Lastras (Illes Balears) smiles as the stage winner
• Michael Rogers (Quick.Step-Innergetic) wonders why all the jerseys in Switzerland are so small
• Another couple of kisses for Mick Rogers

Images by AFP Photo

• Tom Boonen leads the Quick.Step train
• The peloton rides through the pristine Swiss countryside during stage 8
• Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) working hard on his stare
• A petrified spectator watches the breakaway go by
• Alex Moos (Phonak) didn't get the home win he wanted today
• Barredo, Lastras, and Wegmann on the final climb
• Pablo Lastras (Illes Balears) makes the winning move

Stage 7 - June 17: Einsiedeln - Lenk, 193 km

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Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

• Michael Rogers (Quick.Step) warming up
• Mick Rogers (Quick.Step) a bit nervous
• Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) rides to the start
• Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) has that look
• Der Jan signs autographs
• Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) prepares for another day
• Guerini and Ullrich tell the one about the bear
• Joke's over
• You had to be there
• Cadel Evans (Davitamon-Lotto) looking pensive
• Brad McGee (Francaise des Jeux) looking fairly focused
• Iban Mayo (Euskaltel) reclaims his steed
• Iban Mayo (Euskaltel) catches up on his reading
• Iban Mayo (Euskaltel) smiles at the start
• Beat Zberg (Gerolsteiner) and family
• Knaven and Boonen are two of Quick.Step's key men
• Tom Boonen (Quick.Step) always smiling
• Tom Boonen (Quick.Step) ready for a hard day
• Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues) with Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto)
• Linus Gerdemann (CSC) wins the stage!
• Lorenzo Bernucci (Fassa Bortolo) crosses for second
• Lorenzo Bernucci (Fassa Bortolo) comes in second
• Martin Elmiger (Phonak) finishes third
• Michael Rogers (Quick.Step) crosses the line
• Iban Mayo (Euskaltel) comes in
• The bunch comes rolling in
• Mick Rogers (Quick.Step) post-stage
• Lorenzo Bernucci (Fassa Bortolo) post-stage
• Linus Gerdemann (CSC) grins from the podium
• Stage winner Linus Gerdemann (CSC)
• Michael Rogers (Quick.Step) and flowers
• Michael Rogers (Quick.Step) salutes from the podium
• Michael Rogers (Quick.Step) puts on yellow again
• Michael Rogers (Quick.Step) still in yellow

Stage 6 - June 16: Bürglen UR - Arosa, 158.7 km

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Images by Anthony Tan/Cyclingnews.com

• After a few minor tweaks the Cthe Cyclingnews blimp recently passed the Swiss B.L.I.M.P. test for air-worthiness - even more stringent than the SNELL test for bike helmets! - and is back in business. On Wednesday, it was spotted over Lake Lucerne, as the peloton made its way to the finish of Stage 5 in Altdorf.
• Fun and games for the kids at the village départ.
• Yesterday's stage winner and sprints classification leader, Michael Albasini (Liquigas-Bianchi).
• Iban Mayo (Euskaltel-Euskadi) is hopeful for a return to top form sooner rather than later.
• Tom Boonen (Quick.Step-Davitamon) would probably prefer if the kids had Quick.Step caps!
• Are Jan Ullrich's pins the legs of the next Tour de France champion?
• Jan Ullrich's spell in yellow ended after today's stage finishing in Arosa.
• Der Jan, Der Kaiser, Der Man.
• Jan goes through a few pre-race checks on his machine in Bürglen.
• Aww, it's alright Mr. Diablo, the riders will be on their way soon. You can wave your trident soon enough.
• I said many things to him... Chris Horner (Saunier Duval-Prodir) tells it like it was at the post-stage press conference.

Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

• Heading into the high mountains
• The Swiss try their own version of the CN blimp
• Clearly it needs work
• Chris Horner (Saunier Duval) drives for home
• Vincenzo Nibali (Fassa Bortolo) in the hurt box
• Aitor Gonzalez (Euskaltel) leading Koldo Gil (Liberty)
• Mick Rogers (Quick.Step) fights for every second
• Ullrich puts the power down
• Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) leads McGee
• Patrik Sinkewitz (Quick.Step) suffers
• Moos and Evans go at it
• Beat Zberg (Gerolsteiner) leads Totschnig and Voigt
• Giuseppe Guerini (T-Mobile) had another hard day today
• Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) trying to build form
• Chris Horner (Saunier Duval) wins the sixth stage
• Chris Horner (Saunier Duval) salutes as he wins
• Vincenzo Nibali (Fassa Bortolo) gives a mini-salute for finishing second
• Mick Rogers (Quick.Step) crosses for third, and the yellow jersey
• Leonardo Piepoli (Saunier Duval) finishing 7th, having done a good job for Jeker and Horner
• Ullrich and McGee lead their group home for 10th and 11th
• Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) crosses the line in 10th place
• Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) wasn't delighted with his performance today
• Totschnig and Beat Zberg cross together
• The bus stops here
• Chris Horner (Saunier Duval) with his director Mauro Gianetti
• Chris Horner (Saunier Duval) on the podium
• Chris Horner (Saunier Duval) smiles as the stage winner
• Mick Rogers (Quick.Step) is the new leader of the Tour de Suisse
• Mick Rogers (Quick.Step) grins as the new leader

Stage 5 - June 15: Bad Zurzach - Altdorf UR, 172.4 km

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Images by AFP Photo

• Ullrich in yellow during stage 5 of the Tour de Suisse
• Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) rides in yellow during stage 5
• The Francaise des Jeux train with McGee in tow
• Gregory Rast (Phonak) during stage 5, with Albasini on his wheel
• Michael Albasini (R) outsprints Gregory Rast to win stage 5
• Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) salutes from the podium after stage 5

Stage 4 - June 14: Vaduz FL - Bad Zurzach, 208 km

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Images by Anthony Tan/Cyclingnews.com

• These young 'uns are laughing with their prime-time position at the finish in Bad Zurzach.
• Here come the sprinters...
• 75 metres to go and Robbie McEwen has already hit the front...
• ... and McEwen wins by two bike lengths!
• All too easy for Rockin' Robbie McEwen.

Images by AFP Photo

• The peloton rides during stage 4
• Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) in the peloton during stage 4
• Hang on a tic, I just won a race.
• Shield your eyes, Jan is here

Stage 3 - June 13: Abtwil/Säntispark - St. Anton a.A., 154 km

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Images by AFP Photo

• Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) protected by the magenta train all day
• Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) with Brad McGee, Mick Rogers, and Alexandre Moos on his wheel
• Bradley McGee (Francaise des Jeux) knew which wheel to follow today
• Bradley McGee (Francaise des Jeux) beats Mirko Celestino (Domina Vacanze) to win stage 3
• Bradley McGee (Francaise des Jeux) smiles after his win
• Thumbs up! Brad McGee on the podium
• Do I really want this?

Images by

• Alexandr Kolobnev (Rabobank) manages a smile in the rain

Images by Christine Grein/www.capture-the-peloton.com

• Iban Mayo (Euskatel) doesn't look too worried about the rain before stage 3
• Iker Flores (Euskatel) appears to be happy and relaxed before the start of stage 3
• Koldo Gil (Liberty Seguros) was another who was enjoying himself before stage 3 kicked off
• Leif Hoste (Discovery Channel) with something on his mind before the start of stage 3
• Luciano Pagliarini (Liquigas) does his best schoolboy pose before stage 3
• Water goes in mouth... Luis Perez (Cofidis) perfects the art of water squirting
• Liquigas rider Michael Albasini in his sprinter's jersey before stage 3
• Freddy Bichot and Antonio Colom head up the bunch during stage 3
• Cedric Vasseur (Cofidis) puts it in a little bit during stage 3
• Christian Moreni (Quickstep) is flanked by Euskatel riders during the third stage
• Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto) is all ready for the rain
• The Divine Mullet, aka Tom Boonen, waiting at the start of stage 3
• T-Mobile boys Steffen Wesemann and Daniele Nardello lead the bunch during the third stage

Stage 2 - June 12: Weinfelden - Weinfelden ITT, 36 km

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Images by AFP Photo

• Serguei Gonchar (Domina Vacanze) on his way to fifth
• Swiss TT champ Fabian Cancellara (Fassa Bortolo) had a good ride to finish fourth
• Michael Rogers (Quick.Step) rode a solid time trial to finish third
• Bradley McGee (Francaise des Jeux) did an excellent second half to end up second on the day
• Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) sporting his aero-spacehelmet
• Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) clearly showed that he is in good form
• Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) powers along in the TT
• Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) salutes from the podium as the winner of stage 2
• Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) back in yellow

Images by Herbert Krabel/www.litespeed.com

• Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) on his way to the best time of the day and the leader's jersey.
• World TT Champion Michael Rogers (Quickstep) is also very fast today
• There is plenty of cheese for everyone here in Switzerland
• Vladimir Gusev (CSC) pushes hard on a steep section of the course
• Bradley McGee (FdJ) looked very smooth and powerful on his way to second place
• It is a lonely road for yesterday's stage winner and race leader Bernhard Eisel (FdJ)

Images by Christine Grein/www.capture-the-peloton.com

• Man, that stinks! Alejandro Valverde (Illes Balears) reckons his tt performance wasn't so great
• Bernhard Eisel in red, which looks ever so nice on him
• Francaise des Jeux's Bernhard Eisel looks pretty jovial in the leader's jersey before stage 2
• The face of a man on a mission. Bobby Julich (CSC) before the tt in Weinfelden
• Bradley McGee (Francaise des Jeux) looks extremely focussed before the start of stage 2, where he took second
• David Etxebarria (Liberty Seguros) looking a bit glum before the start of the time trial
• Iban Mayo (Euskatel) looks on before the stage 2 start
• Javier Ramirez (Liberty Seguros) gets the countdown before he sets off in the tt
• Joseba Beloki (Liberty Seguros) two seconds before take off
• Michael Albasini (Liquigas) is a happy boy in the sprinter's jersey after stage 2
• Michael Rogers (Quickstep) sporting his World Champion's jersey, looks focussed before the tt
• Oscar Freire (Rabobank) cracks a relaxed smile before the start of stage 2
• Gregory Rast (Phonak) in the mountains jersey after stage 2
• Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) looks in good shape and sits on top of the podium after stage 2
• Now that I'm single...
• Yellow definitely suits Jan... and he thinks so too
• Man, this is good!
• Streamlined and set to go. Ronny Scholz (Gerolsteiner) about to head off in the tt
• Tom Boonen (Quickstep) all ready to go fast in the time trial

Stage 1 - June 11: Schaffhausen - Weinfelden, 170 km

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Images by AFP Photo

• Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) looking a little apprehensive at the team presentation
• Last year's winner Jan Ullrich rides in the leader's jersey during stage 1
• The peloton is greeted by a blast from a horn player
• Gregory Rast (Phonak) is cheered on by local supporters
• Gregory Rast (Phonak) flies along
• Gregory Rast (Phonak) during his long, solo effort
• Bernhard Eisel (Francaise des Jeux) beats Tom Boonen (Quick.Step) to win stage 1
• Bernhard Eisel (Francaise des Jeux) is pretty happy about winning stage 1

Images by Herbert Krabel/www.litespeed.com

• This Swiss guy is not racing
• Lots of support motorcycles are ready to go
• The Swiss police is here in force too
• Jens Voigt (CSC) discusses race strategy with a fan
• Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto) runs into former sponsor Herbert Krabel
• Chris Horner (Saunier Duval) and Saul Raisin (Credit Agricole) chat before the start.
• Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) is surrounded by paparazzi
• Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) patiently signs one of many autographs
• The field getting on its way
• The race is on!
• Saul Raisin of Credit Agricole with Herbert Krabel

Images by Christine Grein/www.capture-the-peloton.com

• Andrea Peron (CSC) sips a bit of coffee before the start of stage 1
• Hey, I get the girls! Bernhard Eisel on the podium after stage 1
• Bernhard Eisel (Francaise de Jeux) was the leader after stage 1
• Cadel Evans (Davitamon-Lotto) may be contemplating his collarbone and how to keep it safe
• Daddy, what does this one do? Jan Boven's little ones give his bike the once over
• Jens Voight (CSC) thinks about the job at hand before the start of stage 1
• You're kidding, right? Patxi Vila (Lampre) doesn't look that amused
• Bernhard Eisel (Francaise de Jeux) looks pretty happy after stage 1
• The peoloton during stage 1 with Jan Ullrich in the background
• Andrea Peron (CSC) finished his coffee and at work during stage 1
• Jan Boven (Rabobank) and Servais Knaven (Quickstep) during stage 1
• Bernhard Eisel and Giampaolo Caruso ride tempo during the first stage
• Swiss rider Fabian Jeker (Saunier-Duval) looks comfortable in the pack during stage 1
• The peloton makes it's way from Schaffhausen to Weinfelden for stage 1
• Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) rides comfortably in the pack
• Ullrich and Jeker both in yellow and riding safely in the pack