Australian takes yellow jersey with first ever European victory
Cameron Meyer (Orica-GreenEdge) blitzed to his first ever victory in Europe in the 8.1km opening time trial of the 2013 Tour de Suisse. The 25-year-old Australian, who set off in the first third of the 167-strong field, posted a time of nine minutes and 39 seconds, as he enjoyed relatively calm conditions around the lightly course.
Meyer’s time was good enough to beat previous fastest Niki Terpstra (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) by ten seconds, with Heinrich Haussler (IAM Cycling) – who started six minutes after Terpstra, and six minutes before Meyer – in third place, 14 seconds back.
Conditions for the time trial gradually worsened, as a stiff wind changed direction and grew stronger. This meant that most of the late starting big names suffered, to the extent that nobody starting after the first hour of the race was able to make the top ten.
“Today went really well,” said Meyer afterwards. “I’m excited and a bit surprised with the result. I started off with the earlier group of riders, and the wind was definitely in my favour. Still, my legs were good.
“I’m very happy with my ride,” he added. “To be leading a WorldTour race with a lot of riders getting ready for the Tour de France is better than I could have dreamt. I’m looking forward to tomorrow. It will be hard with the final up to Crans Montana, but we have a good team. I’m confident we can represent the jersey well.”
Yannick Talabardon (Sojasun) was the first rider off, setting an unremarkable 10’32” but, just a few seconds later, second rider to start Reto Hollenstein (IAM Cycling) went more than half a minute faster in 9’55”. The Swiss rider’s time was to stand for more than half an hour, until Terpstra finished in 9’49”, but the Netherlands road champion was knocked out of the hot seat just 12 minutes later as Meyer posted what was to be the winning time.
Of the late starting big names, 2012 prologue winner Peter Sagan (Cannondale) finished 35 seconds down in 40th place, while defending race champion Rui Costa (Movistar) lost 40 seconds and finished 53rd. Four-time World time trial champion Fabian Cancellara (RadioShack-Nissan) – who went into the race talking down his own chances – was the best of the final wave of riders, finishing in 16th place and conceding just 22 seconds to Meyer on the line.
Result stage 1
1. Cameron Meyer (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge, 8.1km in 9’39”
2. Niki Terpstra (Ned) Omega Pharma-Quick Step @ 10s
3. Heinrich Haussler (Aus) IAM Cycling @ 14s
4. Alex Rasmussen (Den) Garmin-Sharp @ 15s
5. Gorka Verdugo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi @ 16s
6. Reto Hollenstein (Swi) IAM Cycling
7. Michel Koch (Ger) Cannondale Pro Cycling @ 18s
8. Peter Velits (Svk) Omega Pharma-Quick Step @ 19s
9. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Sharp
10. Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Team Saxo-Tinkoff