Austria’s Bernhard Eisel (Columbia-High Road) won the 149.8km second stage of the Tour de Suisse on Sunday in Davos beating German Gerald Ciolek (Milram) and three-time world champion Oscar Freire (Rabobank) in a technical sprint for the line.
Saxo Bank’s Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara finished 11th and kept his overall lead in the race.
Team Columbia proved their depth and surperior teamwork once again placing another rider on the top step of the podium this season.
“I went for a long sprint, found my own line and, above all, I didn’t look back until I crossed that finish line,” Eisel told AFP.
“It was a very technical finish. Fortunately (teammate) George Hincapie gave me a really good leadout, so I was in a great position to go for it and go for the stage win.”
Stage two results from Davos to Davos
1. Bernhard Eisel (AUT/THR) 3h36:54, 2. Gerald Ciolek (GER/MRM), 3. Oscar Freire (ESP/RAB), 4. Francesco Gavazzi (ITA/LAM), 5. José Joaquin Rojas (ESP/GCE), 6. Xavier Florencio (ESP/CTT), 7. Sebastian Siedler (GER/VBG), 8. Lloyd Mondory (FRA/ALM), 9. Enrico Gasparotto (ITA/LAM), 10. Daniel Moreno (ESP/GCE) – all same time
Overall standings
1. Fabian Cancellara (SUI/SAX) 3h46:12, 2. Roman Kreuziger (CZE/LIQ) at 0:22, 3. Andreas Klöden (GER/AST) 0:25, 4. George Hincapie (USA/THR) 0:27, 5. Tony Martin (GER/THR) 0:34, 6. Kim Kirchen (LUX/THR) 0:34, 7. Maxime Monfort (BEL/THR) 0:35, 8. Gustav Erik Larsson (SWE/SAX) 0:36, 9. Heinrich Haussler (GER/CTT) 0:37, 10. Lars Boom (NED/RAB) 0:37.