Gerdemann set for 'favourite race'

By Shane Stokes in Luzern

Promising young T-Mobile rider Linus Gerdemann has a good history in the Tour de Suisse - he took his first professional win here in 2005, taking stage seven on a brilliant solo attack from a fading breakaway. He came back in 2006 to take second on stage three and seventh overall.

Still just 24 years of age, he said prior to stage two that he was looking forward to the race. "We will see how my condition is in the next few days. It is difficult to say but it should be okay. This one of my favourite races, perhaps my favourite race. Switzerland is always nice with good roads and courses."

When asked if he would be aiming for a top GC place, he said that he wasn't sure what would be possible. He will be riding the Tour de France for the first time this year and so that will take priority. However if the legs are good, he'd be happy to ride well. "We will see how things go," he stated. "We have Michael [Rogers] here anyway... we will take it day by day."