Bittersweet result for Liberty Seguros

Liberty Seguros-Würth finished off the Tour de Romandie with one laughing and one crying eye. The Spanish team took home three top five placings with Alberto Contador, Jörg Jaksche and Andrey Kashechkin, one stage victory by Contador and the team's classification, but the overall victory finally went to Davitamon-Lotto's Cadel Evans, who was simply superior on the 20.4km-long time trial course of the last stage. Team director Manolo Saiz was happy with the result, but couldn't hide a little disappointment after coming so close to the final victory.

"I can't ask for more," said Saiz after the race. "We've done well, the whole team has worked and there are no complaints. There was simply one better rider, Cadel Evans."

Saiz commented that it was a "very difficult time trial for Contador, because it had two very hard cobblestone sections that did not favour him - and that was where the race was decided. Still, I'm satisfied because both Alberto and Kashechkin, as well as Jaksche, did very well. The team is in shape, we put three men in top five and, although it does not console me, I hope that this curse of second placings will soon be over." Indeed, Contador's second position in GC is number 13 for Liberty this season - as opposed to seven victories.

Contador himself also put things into perspective after the race. "It wasn't the best day of my life, but it wasn't too bad either," he said. "Cadel Evans was impressive and I can only congratulate him. I felt better than in the time trial of País Vasco, because there I was very bad. Today, on the other hand, the parcours didn't suit me. Last year I was much worse there, so I'm satisfied because my feelings were much better this year." Contador agreed with his directeur sportif about the course. "[The two cobblestone sections] were about one kilometre, but it was a very hard climb and they became long enough," he added.

The 24 year-old had set himself some high goals at the beginning of the season. "I'm a little annoyed that I haven't won the GC neither in País Vasco nor in Romandie, but at least I have won a stage and have been at a good level for the whole month," said Contador, who will now take few days' break before preparing for the Tour de Suisse and ultimately, the Tour de France.