By Shane Stokes in Giubiasco
Gerolsteiner's Stefan Schumacher came into the Tour de Suisse hoping for a good performance prior to starting his first Tour de France, but things haven't gone to plan thus far. After five stages he is lying 80th in the general classification, 22'42 back.
"I was a little bit sick last week and that hasn't helped," he said on Wednesday morning. "Two days ago I made a mistake. The Flüelapass was so long and I didn't drink enough minerals. I was cramping on the climb and felt dead. I felt better yesterday but I didn't try to follow the best because I wasn't one hundred percent."
He said his strategy for the remainder of the race will depend on how the legs are. "If I feel good I could go [on the attack] but if I don't feel good I will stay in the bunch until the finish."
He was 11th on yesterday's stage to Giubiasco, finishing in the same time as winner Robbie McEwen.
