Boogerd couldn't do any more

Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) had to settle for fourth place in yesterday's Züri Metzgete after making it into the winning breakaway of six riders with some 32 km to go. But with riders like Sanchez, O'Grady and Rebellin in the group, Boogerd found himself in the unenviable position of neither being the best sprinter, nor the best climber. In the end, he attacked on the Wetzwil climb with 12 km to go, but was countered by Sanchez, who had the legs to go to the finish alone. Boogerd was beaten in the sprint for second by O'Grady and Rebellin.

"I could have won only through a miracle," the Dutchman commented to De Telegraaf. He described his final attack as "my only chance to get away, but Sanchez came from behind. I didn't have the power to follow him any more."

Boogerd had a positive assessment of his season, which will finish on October 14 with the Giro di Lombardia. "In all the races that I have aimed for, I have been in the finale," he said. "But to be honest, I'm lacking the one win to crown it. In the Giro di Lombardia in two weeks, I have one more chance."