Fränk Schleck further highlighted his ability with a storming stage win on yesterday's stage of the Tour de Suisse. Cyclingnews' Shane Stokes was at the post stage press conference to hear the new yellow jersey talk about his victory and hopes for the race.
Officially, Carlos Sastre will be the sole CSC leader for the Tour de France, but Fränk Schleck's performance thus far in the Tour de Suisse suggests he could also be a protected rider in the race.
Schleck took off approximately seven kilometres from the finish of stage four, tearing up the near-ten percent slopes of the Triesenberg-Malbun climb and opening up a healthy lead over the other main contenders.
Russian rider Vladimir Efimkin (Caisse d'Epargne) was 32 seconds behind the victorious Luxembourg rider at the line. José Angel Gomez Marchante (Saunier Duval-Prodir) was 42 seconds in arrears, while Matteo Carrara (Unibet.com) and Schleck's compatriot Kim Kirchen came home a further six seconds down. Gilberto Simoni was sixth while big names such as Janez Brajkovic (Discovery Channel), Linus Gerdemann, Patrik Sinkewitz, Michael Rogers (all T-Mobile), Andreas Klöden (Astana) and Sastre were all much further back.
Schleck is already a proven winner, having taken the Amstel Gold Race last year plus the l'Alpe d'Huez stage of the Tour de France, but winning a stage and taking the overall lead in the Tour de Suisse means a lot to him.
