Igor Anton (Euskaltel) has won Stage 2 of the Tour de Suisse. Anton attacked in the last 150 m to win the rugged, 197-km ride from Langnau in Emmenthal to Flumserberge in 5:00:04. Kim Kirchen (High Road) outsprinted Damiano Cunego (Lampre) for second at 0:06. Anton has taken the race lead.
After several abortive sallies, Martin Elmiger (Ag2r) escaped at 39 km. Aware that the second half of the day's ride was mountainous, the peloton let the Swiss rider go, and he built an 18-minute lead. When the peloton began to chase, the combination of the climbs and the pursuit caused Elmiger's lead to drop. At the base of the climb to the finish, Elmiger led the field by 1:18.
The bunch caught and dropped Elmiger. Yellow jersey Oscar Freire (Rabobank) was dropped quickly. With eight km left, Gianni Meersman (Francaise des Jeux) attacked, and Jens Voigt (CSC) caught and dropped him. Astana led the chase, and Frank Schleck (CSC) and Stijn Devolder (Quick Step) attacked out of the lead group. Schleck and Devolder passed Voigt, but Oliver Zaugg (Gerolsteiner) took the lead before Anton attacked.
In the overall, Anton leads Kirchen by 0:06 and Cunego by 0:12. Stage 3, a rolling, 155-km run from Flums to Gossau, will not change this state of affairs. The stage could produce an individual or small group escape, but a bunch sprint is more likely. Who will win the day? Check in at www.roadcycling.com and find out!
