2012 will be last edition for race’s sporting director
After several years in the role, the former professional rider Beat Zberg has said that this year will be his last as one of the organisers of the Tour de Suisse.
The former Vuelta a Espana stage winner and Swiss champion has been part of the race’s management team for several years, but from 2013 onwards someone else will fill his role as sporting director and route organizer.
“I have decided to take on a new professional challenge. In recent years I have managed to acquire plenty of valuable experience in the Tour de Suisse and would like to pass on my heartfelt thanks to all those involved for their contribution,” he said.
After being involved with the sport for much of his life, the 40 year old will move in a new direction and take up a role with the road traffic and shipping department in his home district of Uri.
Zberg turned professional with the Helvetia team in 1992, and competed with Carrera, Mercantone Uno, Rabobank and Gerolsteiner over the course of a sixteen year pro career.
His Vuelta a Espana stage victory came in 2001, then six years later he beat Fabian Cancellara by over two minutes in the Swiss national road race championship.
He retired that year and moved into the organization of the Tour de Suisse, helping to consolidate its place as one of the sport’s top events. He worked with technical director Kurt Betschart and commercial director Rolf Huser. The latter will slot into the vacated sporting director role, while former pro David Loosli will take over Zberg’s other role, that of planning the routes of the race.
Along with the Critérium du Dauphiné, the Tour de Suisse is the big warmup race for the Tour de France. Levi Leipheimer won last year’s edition.