60th Tour de Romandie - PT

Switzerland, April 25-30, 2006

Photography

Stage 5 - April 30: Lausanne ITT, 20.4km

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Images by AFP Photo

Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) sets off
Cadel Evans (Davitamon-Lotto) won the stage and the overall
Cadel Evans (Davitamon-Lotto) en route to a big win
Alberto Contador (Liberty Seguros) drives for the line
Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) lost too much time to be a contender for the overall
Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) comes up to the finish
Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) finished 69th in the time trial
Cadel Evans (Davitamon-Lotto) puts on the leader's jersey
Cadel Evans (Davitamon-Lotto) smiles on the podium
The final podium: Alberto Contador (2nd), Cadel Evans (1st) and Alejandro Valverde (3rd)

Stage 4 - April 29: Sion-Sion , 127.7km

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The peloton rides during stage 4
Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) didn't have one of his best days in the mountains
Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) with teammate Eddy Mazzoleni
Alberto Contador (Liberty Seguros) looking comfy in yellow, with Jorg Jaksche on his wheel
Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) beats Moos and Evans to win stage 45 in Sion
Two Spaniards Alberto Contador (leader) and Alejandro Valverde (stage winner)
Valverde and Contador discuss matters of import
Alberto Contador (Liberty Seguros) salutes from the podium

Images by Anthony Tan/Cyclingnews.com

Hey, we know you! The friendly face of CSC sports director Scott Sunderland.
The peloton get set to leave Sion. They'll be back... sometime.
Winning is as easy as one...
... two
... three for Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears).
Chris Horner (Davitamon-Lotto) said he went so deep for team-mate Cadel Evans today, he got dropped in the final 150 metres.
Race leader Alberto Contador (Liberty Seguros-Würth) spends another day in yellow - but will it be his last?
New mountains leader Ivan Ramiro Parra Pinto (Cofidis) is a deserving leader of this classification after being away since kilometre two today.
Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears) and podium girl make a nice couple. In fact, just about anyone would.
Alberto Contador (Liberty Seguros-Würth) looking a little concerned about what lies ahead.
Define boredom: first
... second
... and third.

Stage 3 - April 28: Bienne-Leysin , 164.6km

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Images by AFP Photo

Alberto Contador (Liberty Seguros) wins the third stage
Alberto Contador (Liberty Seguros) enjoys the success
Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) finishes second
Alberto Contador (Liberty Seguros) gets a couple of podium kisses
Alberto Contador (Liberty Seguros) is the new leader of the Tour de Romandie
Alberto Contador (Liberty Seguros) puts on a jacket on top of the mountain
Alberto Contador (Liberty Seguros) with the Spanish flag

Images by Anthony Tan/Cyclingnews.com

Four hours, three minutes and forty-one seconds later, Alberto Contador (Liberty Seguros-Würth) triumphs in Leysin.
Alberto Contador (Liberty Seguros-Würth) blows a kiss to the crowd.
Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears) beats Cadel Evans (Davitamon-Lotto) for second place.
Cadel Evans (Davitamon-Lotto) bounced back to show his old self today.
Jorg Jaksche (Liberty Seguros-Würth) comes in for fourth place.
Cadel Evans' face shows the strain of a big day in the saddle.
Alberto Contador (Liberty Seguros-Würth) on the podium.
Try this on for size...
On the cheek, Alberto...
Two are better than one.
Alberto Contador (Liberty Seguros-Würth) faces the media at the winner's press conference.
Are we looking at the future winner of the 60th Tour de Romandie?

Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

ProTour leader Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne)
Alberto Contador (Liberty Seguros-Würth) drives for the line
Alberto Contador (Liberty Seguros-Würth) wins the third stage

Stage 2 - April 27: Porrentruy-Porrentruy , 171.2km

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Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

Chris Horner (Davitamon-Lotto) wins stage 2
Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery) in the peloton

Images by AFP Photo

Jan Ullrich has plenty of fans
Young fans watch stage 2
Jan Ullrich follows the peloton
Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery Channel) refuels on the cobbles
Roger Beuchat (LPR) away in the rain
Christophe Moreau (AG2R) cornering in the wet
This is what you call tight racing
Chris Horner (Davitamon-Lotto) scores his first win for Davitamon
Chris Horner (Davitamon-Lotto) wins the second stage
Chris Horner (Davitamon-Lotto) salutes from the podium
Chris Horner (Davitamon-Lotto) dons the yellow jersey
Chris Horner (Davitamon-Lotto) is the new leader

Images by Anthony Tan/Cyclingnews.com

An expectant crowd in Porrentruy lined the uphill finish, while the photographers on the left take their positions.
Today's stage winner Chris Horner (Davitamon-Lotto) salutes the crowd.
It was hard to wipe the smile off Chris Horner's face at quarter to six this evening.
"I think I could get used to this... "
"And I certainly can get used to this!"
A popular new sprint leader, David Loosli (Lampre-Fondital), who took the lead in the classification after his long breakaway with Roger Beuchat.
"Yeah, I did orright, didn't I?!"
Overnight leader Paolo Savoldelli's solemn face said it all. But we dig those fishnet stockings!
This was the extent of Paolo Savoldelli's emotions on the podium after loosing the lead today.
Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery Channel) thinks about the days ahead.
The eyes tell the story - it's not over till it's over, thinks Paolo Savoldelli.
Jura local Roger Beuchat (LPR) the most popular figure on the podium this evening.
Chris Horner (Davitamon-Lotto) tells it like it was at the post-race press conference.
That winning grin!

Stage 1 - April 26: Payerne-Payerne , 169.0km

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Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto) wins the first stage
Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto) on the podium after winning stage 1
Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery) in the lead

Images by Anthony Tan/Cyclingnews.com

Race leader Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery Channel) looking tranquillo before the start of the opening road stage in Payerne.
Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) sporting his '06 hairstyle that resembles the famed 'mullet'. Go Jan, and go the mullet!
Stage winner Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto) tells reporters how the race was won, giving his team a much-needed victory.

Images by AFP Photo

Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) prepares for another day
Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) does the pre-race bike check routine
Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) likes it shaken, not stirred
The peloton races during stage 2
Dmitri Konyshev (LPR) was the hero of the day
McEwen gets his wheel in front
Robbie McEwen (Davitamon Lotto) wins in the rain
Robbie McEwen (Davitamon Lotto) waves from the podium
Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery) is kissed on the podium
Dmitri Konyshev (LPR) got the sprints and mountains jerseys

Prologue - April 25: Geneva ITT, 3.4km

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Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery) salutes after winning the prologue

Images by AFP Photo

Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) starts his 2006 season, at last
Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) would finish 90th, 26 seconds down, in what he says is primarily a training race for him.
Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery Channel) on the way to his first stage win of the year.
Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery Channel) gets encouragement from a young fan as he heads for the victory.
Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears) was a surprising second place and must be counted as a favourite after his two recent Classics wins.
Bradley McGee (Française des Jeux) made the podium, but not the hoped-for top step.
Alexandre Moos (Phonak Hearing Systems) on the way to 24th place.
Andreas Dietziker (LPR) finished ninth
Laurent Lefevre (Bouygues Telecom) was eighth.
Laszlo Bodrogi (Credit Agricole) deomonstrated his short course time trial abilities with a solid fifth 5th place.
Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery Channel) pulls on the leader's yellow jersey.
Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery Channel) on the podium.

Images by Anthony Tan/Cyclingnews.com

"Now, what should I do today... "
Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) focuses on the task at hand.
Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) shares a laugh with countryman Sebastian Lang (Gerolsteiner).
All eyes on Der Jan.
Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) with his physiotherapist on standby.
Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) checks his sunglasses.
Focusing on form.
Two seconds...
Go!
Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) powers his way to the line with 300 metres to go.
Frédéric Bessy (Cofidis) with 100 metres to go.
Bart Dockx (Davitamon-Lotto) finished 64th with a time of 4'48.10.
Bram De Groot (Rabobank) puts his head down en route to 14th place.
Guennadi Mikhailov (Discovery Channel) about to round the final hairpin turn at one of Geneva University's numerous buildings.
Ronny Scholz (Gerolsteiner) grimaces coming out of the same turn.
Danish TT champion Michael Blaudzun (Team CSC) finished in 16th place.
Victor Hugo Peña (Phonak) finished 51st.
Giuseppe Muraglia (LPR Guerciotti) was on fire. Well, his helmet was, at least.
Pietro Caucchioli (Crédit Agricole) will be hoping for a good GC by the week's end.
A picture of concentration on the final hairpin.
David Loosli (Lampre-Fondital) not hangin' loose.
Hubert Schwab (Quick.Step-Innergetic) in the hurt bag.
Georg Totschnig (Gerolsteiner) grimaces.
Nicki Sorensen (Team CSC) in the zone. The red zone.
Francisco Mancebo (AG2R-Prevoyance) in his new team colours.
Bradley McGee (Francaise des Jeux) ended up on the podium in third place.
Rabobank team manager Adri Van Houwelingen said this week in Switzerland will be an important test for their new Colombian signing Mauricio Ardila, who will assume an outright leadership role in the upcoming Giro d'Italia.