Tour de Suisse Prologue – Martin Wins

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World Champion Tony Martin (Omega Pharma – Quick-Step) won the 9.4km prologue of Tour de Suisse on Saturday

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Tour de Suisse Prologue – Martin Wins

World Champion Tony Martin (Omega Pharma – Quick-Step) won the 9.4km prologue of Tour de Suisse on Saturday with Kennaugh best Brit in 11th and Wiggins 14th.

Report
Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team rider Tony Martin won the 9.4km prologue of Tour de Suisse on Saturday, with a time of 13’48” on a parcours that included an uphill on the second half that descended into the finish.

The three-time UCI World Time Trial Champion was one of the earlier riders on course, but one-by-one riders were unable to match his time. Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Shimano) was 2nd, and Rohan Dennis (Garmin-Sharp) was 3rd.

“I think I had a good strategy because I knew if I went really 100 percent on the flat part, I wouldn’t have enough energy for the mountain,” Martin said. “I had a split time in the first intermediate that was a second down to Rohan Dennis”.

“I knew I had the power at that point, having saved some energy. So I knew I had to go 100 percent, but also be ready for the descent. If you go really full gas to the top you can’t concentrate on the technical parts of the downhill”.

“So I was always focused on the descent, not going over the edge at the top of the climb. I was also able to sprint out of the corners on the descent. I had a really good feeling the whole race, but I think I made the difference on the descent, and my Specialized Shiv gave me the confidence to be aggressive there”.

“It was the hardest, most technical prologue of my career. You cannot underestimate that kind of a parcours even if the distance is shorter. I have three victories now at Tour de Suisse. It’s a race that I like a lot, it’s well organized and I try to do well here in moments that suit me. I will now focus on trying to do well on the Stage 7 individual time trial. I will do my best for a good result there, and we will see what can happen in the mountains.”

BRITISH RIDERS
Peter Kennaugh was the final Team Sky rider down the start ramp in Bellinzona and produced an impressive display to finish in 11th place after clocking a time of 14 minutes 17 seconds on the 9.4km course.

Sir Bradley Wiggins meanwhile, completed a fast and technical run in 14min 20sec to stay in touch with the general classification contenders. The British rider beat the likes of Cadel Evans (BMC) and reining champion Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida) to seal 14th place, 32 seconds off the pace.

1. Martin Tony, Omega Pharma – Quick-Step
2. Dumoulin Tom, Team Giant-Shimano @00:06
3. Dennis Rohan, Garmin Sharp @ 13
4. Cancellara Fabian, Trek Factory Racing @ 16
5. Pozzovivo Domenico, AG2R La Mondiale @ 19
6. Sagan Peter, Cannondale
7. Mollema Bauke, Belkin-Pro Cycling Team @ 22
8. Slagter Tom-Jelte, Garmin Sharp @ 23
9. Izagirre Ion, Movistar Team @27
10. Cattaneo Mattia, Lampre-Merida @29

11. Kennaugh Peter, Team Sky @st
14 Wiggins Bradley, Team Sky @ 32
56 Dowsett Alex, Movistar Team @ 55
72 Rowe Luke, Team Sky @1.04
131 Swift Ben, Team Sky @1.30
150 Cavendish Mark, Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @1.42

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