Fabian Cancellara won the seventh stage after he made a decisive move with 5 kilometres to go. It was the beginning
of a spectacular solo ride by the Swiss rocket.
"I'd said beforehand that I'd try for the victory today but that doesn't always mean it's gonna work out that way. It was
a fantastic feeling and I only really started to believe it was true for the last kilometer or so," said Cancellara.
For
Saturday's time trial there might be also be certain expectations on behalf of Cancellara, but the Swiss talent does not feel
any pressure.
"It's a mountain time trial and it's too tough for me to beat the best GC riders here so I'm just gonna
go out there and enjoy showing off my World Champion Jersey to my home audience," said the Team CSC Saxo Bank rider with a
smile.
"This was a well deserved climax for our team as far as this race goes. I think it's safe to say we've dominated
the larger part of it. Today we made attempts early in the stage as well, where both Stuart O'Grady and Andy Schleck were
in breaks. And I also have to say that the whole team did a great job to support Fabian at the end, where both Stuart, Kurt
Asle Arvesen and Jens Voigt were up front working hard. You have to remember that sometimes its narrow margins with a finish
like this so the team definitely deserves credit for today's effort," determined CSC - Saxo Bank sports director Kim Andersen.
Only two seconds separated Erik Zabel (Milram) from his first stage win at this years Tour de Suisse. The German veteran
won the bunch sprint, but it was all about second place. "Today we were so close to a stage win! After Cancellara attacked,
there was chaos in the finale,“ Zabel said after the race. "It just wasn't possible for us to set up our sprint. In
the end the chase just didn't work and Cancellara won it by a hair.“
The Tour de Suisse will continue today with the 25 kilometres long eight stage, a mountain time trial from Altdorf
to Klausenpass. Its expected that the battle for the overall win of this years edition of the race probebly will be decided
today. Click here to see the profile of stage 8.
