Olympic time trial champion Fabian Cancellara leads Switzerland's long list of an eventual six riders for the World Championships road race. The race will month in Mendrisio, Switzerland, September 27.
Switzerland qualified for three riders in the championships, and as host nation has three more positions available. Two of the six riders may participate in the time trial.
Cancellara (Saxo Bank) this season won the opening stage of the Tour de France and the prologue of the Tour of California. He dominated the Tour de Suisse, winning two stages, the points' ranking and the overall title. He is also current Swiss road champion.
The Swiss federation also nominated Michael Albasini (Columbia-HTC) for the road team's long list. He won stages in the Vuelta al País Vasco and the Tour de Suisse, as well as a stage and the overall title in the Tour of Austria this year.
Cancellara and Rubens Bertogliati (Diquigiovanni) should race the time trial, with three riders nominated as reserves.
Switzerland will make its final time trial nominations September 7 and road race nominations September 14.
Preliminary Swiss world championship selection, road race: Albasini Michael (Team Columbia HTC) Bertogliati Rubens (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni) Calcagni Patrick (Barloworld) Cancellara Fabian (Team Saxo Bank) Dietziker Andreas (Vorarlberg - Corratec) Frei Joel (Team Hörmann) Frei Thomas (BMC Racing Team) Frank Mathias (BMC Racing Team) Loosli David (Lampre – NGC) Morabito Steve (Astana) Rast Gregory (Astana) Stalder Florian (BMC Racing Team) Zaugg Oliver (Liquigas)
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