THIS WEEK IN PRO CYCLING
Phonak leads Moos to stage, puts Hamilton near win in Romandie
Tyler Hamilton’s Phonak team led the way in Friday’s “queen stage” of the 58th Tour de Romandie, delivering Alexandre Moos to the stage victory and the race leader’s jersey while positioning Hamilton perfectly for overall victory.
It might have looked easy, but Team CSC and Saunier Duval made the home team sweat in the decisive two-climb 145km stage from Romont to Morgins high in the Swiss Alps along the Swiss-French border.
Team CSC put four riders into the final group of about 20 riders hitting the final Category 1 summit finish to Morgins while Saunier Duval’s Leonardo Piepoli was doing his best to shake Hamilton with a string of attacks starting with 9km to go.
But the Phonak team – racing on home soil and motivated to show the world it can support a rider of Hamilton’s stature – came through with a dramatic performance.
After reeling in a breakaway that held a gap over the day’s first Cat. 1 climb, the team played perfect tactics on the final climb to Morgins. Phonak had four riders in the lead group with 12km to go just as a bright Swiss sun broke out.
The decisive move came when Moos attacked with 4km to go to drop Ivan Basso (CSC) and Fabian Jeker (Saunier Duval). Piepoli immediately followed, but Hamilton played coy, waiting a few moments before easily bridging out.
The trio chugged to the finish line, with the always-generous Hamilton letting Moos fight it out with Piepoli for the stage. Moos came through victorious and snatched the leader’s jersey after prologue winner Brad McGee (FDJeux.com) wilted under the attacks.
“I am really lucky. I had very good legs. I didn't feel so good when the rain started, but as things began to dry off I got a big boost of confidence,” said Moos, who broke into tears moments after winning the stage.
With the time bonuses, Moos, who won a stage in the 2002 Tour de Suisse, takes a five-second lead over defending champion Hamilton. Piepoli moves into third overall at 18 seconds back. With one more mountain stage on tap Saturday and Sunday’s decisive individual time trial in Lausanne, Moos said the team will work to deliver Hamilton into overall victory.
“We got into position and set ourselves up tactically. I knew that the best place to attack was four kilometers from the finish. I looked for a wide spot, in order to prepare the attack of Hamilton. We had Piepoli in our grasp. The end is unbelievable,” said Moos. “Now my focus is to do everything I can to help Tyler to win the race.”
Basso sits in fourth place overall at 38 seconds back, but Team CSC sport director Sean Yates said Hamilton looks like he has the win in his legs.
“We tried to make it as hard as possible for Phonak today, but at the end of the day, they were just too strong for us,” Yates said. “I think Tyler will win now. You saw today he was very strong. When you look at Tyler, I think he’s (one of) the best in the world in the mountains and the time trials. Only Lance Armstrong and Jan Ullrich are better.”
Hamilton looked solid all day, easily spinning in the pedals as Piepoli unleashed a string of lethal attacks that splintered the lead bunch. A victory at Romandie would be a huge boost for Hamilton, who left Team CSC to lead the unproven Phonak team in July’s Tour de France.
McGee hung on until 5km to go and slipped to seventh overall at 56 seconds back. Stefano Garzelli (Vini Caldirola), a winner in Thursday’s stage, faded with 8km to go up the snaking climb.
Tom Danielson (Fassa Bortolo) had a solid ride to come through 20th at 2:52 back in a group of five riders that also included Oscar Sevilla (Phonak). He moved into 24th overall at 5:19 back in his third major stage-race since joining Fassa Bortolo.
The 58th Tour de Romandie continues Saturday with the127.7km fourth stage starting and finishing in Sion. The course hits three Category 1 climbs, including the final climb with 27km to go. After a fast descent, it’s a flat 8km run into Sion for the finish.
