cancellara tour de suisse

Fabian Cancellara’s triumphant 2009 Tour de Suisse

Fabian Cancellara's connection with the Tour de Suisse began in 2003 with his success in the time trial prologue in Egerkingen; ‘Spartacus’, as he was to become known, was just 22 years old when he beat the Spaniard Oscar Pereiro and the Australian Bradley McGee. But the Swiss had to wait another four years before he’d win the opening time trial stage again – in Olten in 2007-, when he kept the yellow jersey for three days.

Cancellara delivered great performances in the 2008 Tour de Suisse with two perfect examples of his ability as a finisseur: he won two stages and the points classification. Fabian attacked about 10km from the end of the seventh stage towards Lyss, gathering a small group that also included the yellow jersey, Kim Kirchen. Four kilometres later, he went solo and managed to keep the peloton away by pushing at maximum effort on the extremely fast roads through the Swiss countryside.

Two days later, he celebrated his second victory at home, in Bern, with a great comeback to beat the Belgian Philippe Gilbert, who tried to anticipate the bunch sprint. That year, Cancellara also won Tirreno-Adriatico, Milano-Sanremo, a stage of the Tour de France and the Olympic Games individual time trial (ITT) in Beijing, China.

There were great expectations for Cancellara the following year. The 2009 Tour de Suisse started in Liechtenstein with a classic time trial prologue - 7.8km from Mauren to Ruggell –, and no other riders had a chance: Fabian won ahead of defending champion Roman Kreuziger of the Czech Republic by 19 seconds, and 22 seconds ahead of the German Andreas Klöden, to become general classification (GC) leader. The next two stages were flat, and went to the sprinters, Austrian Bernhard Eisel and Briton Mark Cavendish.

Cancellara lost the yellow jersey on the 4th stage to Stäfa, when a small bunch with some dangerous outsiders – including the Dane Matti Breschel, who won the stage, Andy Schleck from Luxembourg and Slovenian Tadej Valjavec, who became the new GC leader – finished one minute ahead of the group.

But in the next stage, the Swiss showed that he had no intention of abandoning his general classification goal, putting himself among the protagonists of an exciting fight in the last kilometre of the ascent of Servaus in Austria. Cancellara was defeated only by his compatriot Michael Albasini in the small group sprint and moved back up to third place overall, tied with the other Swiss, Oliver Zaugg. He then climbed to second place on the sixth stage to Bad Zurzach, thanks to five seconds picked up via bonus sprints. It was clear that Cancellara was dedicating all his effort chasing the yellow jersey without waiting for the final time trial.

Spartacus got a precious sixth place and managed not to lose any seconds in the tough seventh stage up to Vallorbe Juraparc, which was won by Kim Kirchen. The Luxembourger attacked out of the peloton in the final metres, catching Roman Kreuziger – who had attacked solo -  to win by a mere two seconds. Cancellara was in a bunch that finished five seconds behind Kreuziger.

Then, in the other difficult stage with the final climb to Crans Montana, Cancellara grabbed third place behind the winner, his time trial rival Tony Martin from Germany, and the Italian Damiano Cunego. Thanks to the bonus seconds, Fabian then had just a four-second gap to the race leader, Tadej Valjavec who finished fourth.

The 2009 Tour of Suisse would be decided on the final 39km individual time trial in Bern and it was crystal clear that Cancellara had the best chance of his life to win his home race after a week of attacks, bonus sprints and excellent performances in the climbs. And of course, the finish was in the city where he was born. Against the clock the two-time UCI World Champion used all his power to push the previous race leader, Tadej Valjavec, three minutes away – and with it, to claim the final victory. Second was Germany's Tony Martin, of course. Valjavec lost not only the overall leadership but also a final podium position: Martin moved up to second overall and Roman Kreuziger third.

It was the first and only Tour of Suisse overall victory for Fabian Cancellara, who won another four stages in the following years: the prologues of 2010 and 2011 – both in Lugano – and one in Baar in 2016, along with the final individual time trial of 2011 in Schaffhausen. Cancellara won 11 stages in total, matching two other Swiss legends, Ferdi Kübler and Hugo Koblet. It wasn’t until the 2016 edition that the then UCI World Champion Peter Sagan overtook the record of stage victories in the Tour of Suisse; the Slovakian currently has 17.

2016 was also the last year of Spartacus' career: he retired in the best way possible after earning his second ITT Olympic gold medal at the Rio 2016 Games in Brazil.

Fabian Cancellara Wins 2009 Tour de Suisse

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RACE REPORT COURTESY OF RIIS CYCLING: Team Saxo Bank’s significant machine of speed, Fabian Cancellara, had an important task today in his hometown of Bern where he with a solid performance on the trial time would be able to win Tour de Suisse.

And Fabian Cancellara made more than just a solid performance. Through the streets of Bern he was cheered on by his countrymen with the Swiss flag on his back marking the fact that he is the national champion in the fight against the clock, he crushed any hope for the other riders in the GC.

The worst competitors were absolutely powerless compared to the strong Swiss who flew through the undulating 39 kilometres in 46 minutes and 1 second and crossing the finish line he celebrated the victory of both today’s stage and the overall standings.

“It was a fantastic feeling to win on home ground today. I must admit that I had goose bumps on the course and I could clearly feel the support from the audience. When I started Tour de Suisse I had not dreamed of the possibility of the overall victory. But with the team’s help and a shape that finally has arrived we managed anyway. It has been a fantastic week for me and for the team. I would like to thank the team, the audience and the sponsors for their support and we could not wish for a better prelude to the Tour de France”, said a very happy Fabian Cancellara.

And also sports diretor, Kim Andersen, was content after the big result:

“It was a fantastic final of a race where we have always had focus on racing for a good overall result for Fabian and it shows that the team is working very well together. In addition, we also won the team competition, which shows a nice breadth of the squad. I see that the riders are getting stronger and now we must focus on the next big task. It has been a good day for Team Saxo Bank, a delighted sports director Kim Andersen said after the last stage of the Tour de Suisse.

Top 10 GC standings after the break…

1. Fabian Cancellara (SUI), Saxo Bank, 33:05:51 2. Tony Martin (GER), Columbia-Highroad, +2:02 3. Roman Kreuziger(CZE), Liquigas, +2:24 4. Andreas Kloden (GER), Astana, +2:50 5. Tadej Valjavec (SLO), Ag2r-La Mondiale, +3.18 6. Damiano Cunego (ITA), Lampre-NGC, +3:23 7. Rein Taaramae (EST), Cofidis, +4:04 8. Kim Kirchen (LUX), Columbia-Highroad, +4:04 9. Maxime Monfort (BEL), Columbia-Highroad, +4:04 10. Michael Albasini (SUI), Columbia-Highroad, +4:08

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Fabian Cancellara

Points per specialty

• 6865 Onedayraces
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• All time 33
• Visits: ▼35  this week

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• 3x   Ronde van Vlaanderen   ('14, '13, '10)
• 3x   Paris - Roubaix   ('13, '10, '06)
• 8x   stage Tour de France   ('12, '10, '09, '08, '07, '04)
• 4x   World Championships ME - ITT   ('10, '09, '07, '06)
• 2x   Olympic Games - ITT   ('16, '08)
•   Milano-Sanremo   ('08)
• 3x   E3 Prijs Vlaanderen - Harelbeke   ('13, '11, '10)
• 11x   stage Tour de Suisse   ('16, '11, '10, '09, '08, '07, '03)
•   GC Tirreno-Adriatico   ('08)
•   GC Tour de Suisse   ('09)
• 6x   stage Tirreno-Adriatico   ('16, '15, '12, '11, '08, '06)
• 3x   stage La Vuelta ciclista a España   ('13, '09)
• Retired since 2016-12-31
• 2016 Trek - Segafredo (WT)
• 2015 Trek Factory Racing (WT)
• 2014 Trek Factory Racing (WT)
• 2013 RadioShack - Leopard (WT)
• 2012 RadioShack - Nissan (WT)
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• 2002 Mapei - Quickstep (TT1) as from 01/08
• 2002 Mapei - Quick Step - Latexco (TT3) until 31/07
• 2001 Mapei - Quickstep (TT1)
• 2000 Mapei - Quickstep (TT1)  trainee as from 01/09

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• 88 Wins GC (6) Oneday races (33) ITT (58)
• 21 Grand tours tour (11) giro (3) vuelta(7)
• 35 Classics RBX(12) MSR(10) RVV(13) LBL(0) LOM(0)

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No matter if for one stage or all of them – register now, secure a starting place at the TdS Challenge and with a little luck start just before the time trial Olympic champion.

The dream of many hobby riders is coming true. Time Trial Olympic Champion Fabian Cancellara makes his comeback at the “Cornèrcard Cancellara Challenge” and faces the direct comparison among all men – and women! This year again, the prologue time trial leads on the original route of the first Tour de Suisse stage (10.6.). The venue is the centrally located Cham, which has excellent transport connections. The course leads over a 6 km long, flat course, which promises high speed and lots of spectacle.

Three stages for everyone

After the cancellation of the stage in the Ötztal valley due to construction work, this year’s TdS Challenge is about the overall victory over three stages (10-11 June in Cham and 18 June in Schaffhausen). At this year’s TdS Challenge, you don’t have to be a certified mountain rider to have a say in the overall ranking. This makes the TdS Challenge 2017 incredibly exciting in terms of the overall standings!

After the warm-up with Fabian Cancellara on Saturday, the participants will start the second TdS Challenge stage, the so-called “Morgarten Memorial” on Sunday (11.6.) a few hours before the pros. On a distance of 87 km, they ride on the original circuit of the Tour de Suisse and master a total of 1200 metres in altitude. One week later, at the end of the Tour de Suisse, the TdS Challenge riders will once again experience a crisp circuit of around 70-80 hilly kilometres (18.6.) in Schaffhausen on the occasion of the “Cornèrcard City Circle”. The detailed route profiles of all three stages will be published with the Tour de Suisse route presentation of 2 March 2017.

If you want to face the duel with Fabian Cancellara or compare your own section times / segments later on Strava with those of the pros at the Tour de Suisse, it is best to register immediately. Registrations are accepted for the individual stages or for all three stages (here) . Those who register for all three events receive a discount of CHF 20.00.

Register today for all three stages and fight for the overall victory of the Tour de Suisse Challenge. An unforgettable award ceremony awaits you on the original podium of the professionals.

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Fabian Cancellara wins stage two of the 2015 Tour of Oman

Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing) has confirmed that he will be on the start line for the 2015 Tour de Suisse after his team cast doubt over his appearance when they announced that their star rider was suffering from a throat infection.

Cancellara was unable to take part in the traditional warm-up one-day race to the Tour de Suisse, the GP Kanton Aargau-Gippingen, which was won in a sprint finish by Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) ahead of  Michael Albasini (Orica-GreenEdge) and Davide Appollonio (Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec) on Thursday.

After a crash at E3 Harelbeke which left him with fractured vertebrae in March, Cancellara was only able to return to racing at last month's Tour de Fjords and absence from his home tour would have put a place on the Tour de France team in serious doubt.

The seven-time monument winner was able to  put any doubt aside on Friday however, as he posted on Twitter that, with the helo of anti-biotics, he had sufficiently recovered in time to race in Switzerland come Saturday.

The 2015 Tour de Suisse starts with a prologue time trial before eight further stages, ending with another individual time trial to Bern on the final day. Britain's Mark Cavendish ( Etixx - Quick-Step) is set to take to the startline as he prepares for the Tour de France , while Nairo Quintana will also be looking to find his form ahead of a GC campaign at the Tour.

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Cancellara Opens Tour de Suisse with Victorious Farewell

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June 11, 2016 – Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara won the prologue of the 80th Tour of Switzerland — and his last — in Baar over a thrilling 6.4 kilometers on Saturday.

AFP/Yuzuru Sunada

RELATED: Cancellara Plans Retirement in 2016

The decorated 35-year-old Trek team rider pipped by a second Lotto’s Jurgen Roelandts of Belgium, in second, and the Australian Luke Durbridge (Orica) in third, two seconds off the leader.

After a wet start to the day that meant slippery conditions early on for some riders, home favourite Cancellara powered to the line in seven minutes 38 seconds to just edge out Roelandts and grab the yellow jersey, to the delight of the locals.

It was Cancellara’s 11th Tour of Switzerland stage win and the sixth time that “Spartacus,” as he is fondly known, will wear the leader’s jersey after the opening stage.

Among the overall favourites, Britain’s Geraint Thomas was 12 seconds off the top time and American Tejay Van Garderen 28 seconds adrift. Last year’s winner, Simon Spilak from Slovenia, finished 31 seconds down in 64th place. The Tour continues on Sunday with a 188-kilometer stage around Baar.

Results Prologue: 1. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Trek-Segafredo 0:07:38 2. Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Soudal 0:00:01 3. Luke Durbridge (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge 0:00:02 4. Martin Elmiger (Swi) IAM Cycling 0:00:06 5. Jon Izaguirre (Spa) Movistar Team 6. Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto Soudal 0:00:07 7. Johan Le Bon (Fra) FDJ 0:00:09 8. Silvan Dillier (Swi) BMC Racing Team 9. Gorka Izaguirre (Spa) Movistar Team 0:00:10 10. Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo

General Classification: 1. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Trek-Segafredo 0:07:00 2. Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Soudal 0:00:01 3. Luke Durbridge (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge 0:00:02 4. Martin Elmiger (Swi) IAM Cycling 0:00:06 5. Jon Izaguirre (Spa) Movistar Team 6. Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto Soudal 0:00:07 7. Johan Le Bon (Fra) FDJ 0:00:09 8. Silvan Dillier (Swi) BMC Racing Team 9. Gorka Izaguirre (Spa) Movistar Team 0:00:10 10. Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo

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« C’est le Pelé du vélo » : Cancellara encense Van der Poel après son doublé de légende sur Paris-Roubaix

Fabian Cancellara n’est plus le dernier. Le Suisse, triple vainqueur du Tour des Flandres et de l’Enfer du Nord était le dernier, en 2013, à s’y être imposé la même année. Il se dit ravi d’accueillir Van der Poel dans ce club des doublés qui comptent désormais onze hommes.

Cela faisait onze années, et le succès de Fabian Cancellara le 7 avril 2013, que le groupe des dix hommes ayant remporté les Flandres et Paris-Roubaix la même année n’avait plus grossi. Le Suisse, dernier en date, estime que la victoire de Mathieu van der Poel ce dimanche 7 avril après un raid solitaire de 60 kilomètres , avec la tunique de champion du monde sur le dos, est peut-être encore plus belle que sa propre performance.

Depuis onze ans et votre exploit, personne n’avait remporté Paris-Roubaix, une semaine après le Tour des Flandres. Comment jugez-vous la performance de Van der Poel ?

FABIAN CANCELLARA. Déjà, il a commencé à gagner quelques jours plus tôt. Là où il a déjà été intelligent, c’est en allant se préparer en Espagne pendant la semaine alors qu’il ne faisait pas très beau sur Roubaix ou en Belgique. Donc, il était mieux habitué à la chaleur que les autres.

Pourquoi est-ce si difficile de remporter le Tour des Flandres et Roubaix la même année ?

Parce que c’est déjà énorme d’en gagner une des deux. Cela demande tellement d’efforts et de fatigue que, quand tu gagnes déjà les Flandres, il y a une forme de relâchement, car gagner ce monument fait que ta saison est déjà réussie . Il faut avoir la capacité d’enchaîner.

Quelle est la principale force de Mathieu van der Poel ?

Je dirais sa confiance, car il ne doute pas et dégage quelque chose qui fait peur aux adversaires, qui courent en fonction de lui. Quand on est regardé comme cela, cela peut être un atout important si on est en forme. C’est toi qui donnes le tempo de la course et tu peux faire de l’intox . J’ai connu cela. Quand tu sais que tout le monde a peur de toi, tu peux jouer avec les autres. Mais il y a autre chose chez Mathieu.

Dans sa famille, c’est champion sur champion. Ton grand-père, c’est Poulidor. Ton père, c’est Adrie van der Poel qui était un super coureur. Cela veut dire que le talent est génétique chez eux et qu’en plus, on peut te transmettre l’expérience. On connaît plein de gars qui ont gagné une grande course et ensuite n’ont jamais plus rien fait. Mathieu, lui, a appris que s’il voulait faire comme papy et papa, il fallait durer. C’est ce qui permet de faire la différence. Des gars comme cela dans le milieu, il n’y en a pas cinquante : Vingegaard , Roglic, Pogacar et Mathieu .

Possède-t-il l’instinct du champion ?

Oui. C’est quelque chose qui ne s’apprend pas. J’insiste, mais sa famille a le vélo de champion dans le sang. Et cela peut aider. Chez lui, c’est un plus. Mais attention, cela ne marche pas toujours comme cela. Regardez ce qui est arrivé à Axel Merckx, le fils d’Eddy. Axel, c’était un bon coureur mais cela ne l’a pas aidé d’être le fils du plus grand champion de tous les temps. Alors que Mathieu, il est devenu plus fort que Raymond Poulidor et Adrie Van der Poel.

Il est le premier de l’histoire à réussir le doublé Ronde-Roubaix avec le maillot de champion du monde…

Oui et cela, je n’ai jamais réussi à le faire. J’ai été quatre fois champion du monde du contre-la-montre et deux fois champion olympique. Mais, désolé, le maillot arc-en-ciel sur route, je ne l’ai jamais gagné. Excusez-moi (sourire). Ça, je peux dire que Mathieu a réussi quelque chose de plus fort que moi.

Est-il le meilleur coureur du monde sur les courses d’un jour ?

De toute l’histoire du cyclisme , on ne pourra jamais dire cela car comparer les époques n’a aucun sens. En foot, vous pouvez discuter des heures pour savoir si Pelé était plus fort que Maradona ou Messi. Ce qui compte, c’est d’être le meilleur de sa génération. Et là, sur les courses d’une journée, oui, c’est le plus grand de son monde. C’est le Pelé du vélo sur les classiques. Pogacar ou Vingegaard sont différents. Si Pogacar était champion du monde , on pourrait discuter mais pour l’instant, le plus grand, c’est Mathieu.

Van der Poel a gagné trois des cinq monuments du cyclisme. Peut-il s’imposer sur Liège-Bastogne-Liège et le Tour de Lombardie ?

Cela va être compliqué, il faut être honnête. Mais quand tu t’appelles Van der Poel, tu ne dois jamais dire jamais. Cela sera difficile. Mais impossible, ce n’est pas un mot pour lui.

Cancellara: No repeat of Suisse success

Anticipates Fabian Cancellara Challenge against amateurs

Fabian Cancellara is training for the defence of his Tour de Suisse title but the Saxo Bank rider has played down his chances of claiming the title again.

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“I have started training again and I am working very intensively, including behind a motorcycle. I have to find my racing rhythm again,” he wrote on his personal website.

“As the title holder I want to put in a good performance. However I don't have the kind of form that I had before the start of last year's Tour de Suisse. For that reason the stage from Meiringen to La Punt, with the Susten, Oberalp and Albula passes, will probably be too much for me,” he explained.

Adding to the difficulties could be the continuing bad weather in Switzerland. “I hope that the weather plays along. They say it's still quite wintry on the passes,” he said. “On the Susten pass the thermometer was showing just three degrees above freezing.”

The Swiss rider is hoping to able to check out the Tour's third stage, from Sierre to Schwarzenburg. “It starts on the flat, goes up to the Col des Mosses, along the Lake of Gruyere through the Fribourg region via Tafers to Schwarzenburg. The additional lap of around 30km, two of which have an eleven percent uphill gradient, is something special,” he said.

This year's Tour de Suisse opens with a 7.6km time trial in Lugano, which the three-time world time trial champion is especially looking forward. Not only because he ought to win it, but because it also features the Fabian Cancellara Challenge.

A lucky 200 fans were able to sign up to ride the time trial course of the day of the race, and take on Cancellara. But the riders won't be trying to actually beat his time, which ought to be impossible for them anyway. Instead, they must guess the difference between their racing time and Cancellara's. Whoever comes closest, wins.

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