The second stage of the Tour de Suisse was an up and down 36 km test against the clock, run around...
Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) (Image credit: AFP)
The big motors fire in the TT
The second stage of the Tour de Suisse was an up and down 36 km test against the clock, run around Weinfelden. It was a stage that many of the Tour de France contenders had targeted as a form test, and they did not disappoint. The winner with an impressive ride of 44'06 was "Der Kaiser", Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile), who rode a solid first half and a superb second half to claim the stage and the yellow leader's jersey. Not too far behind Jan were the two Australians, Brad McGee (Francaise des Jeux, 44'21) and Michael Rogers (Quick.Step, 44'24), who also showed that they will be among the top contenders for the Tour de France's opening stage on July 2 in Fromentine. In fourth and fifth were Fabian Cancellara (Fassa Bortolo) and Serguei Gonchar (Domina Vacanze), and a CSC trio of Vladimir Gussev, Jens Voigt, and Bobby Julich took out the next three places.
After the stage, Ullrich said that he was happy with the win, but wasn't going to defend the jersey at all costs. Rather, he wants to merely test himself in the two tough mountain stages towards the end of the week.
