Teammates warned me that it was going to be blistering fast. Having completed the race, I don’t know if the word “fast” does it justice. All the big guns are gearing up for the Tour de France. It’s their big chance to test their legs and their condition. The first stage I will never forget: a 50+kph average door to door going into the flat run in to the finish. I was in my 53-11 and completely spun out. It was like that every day… all out.

The Spanish sprinter, Oscar Freire, won the opening stage of the Tour de Suisse which featured five mountains passes over 1000 meters in altitude each. The climbs were not hard enough to shell Friere from the peloton. At the pro tour level, even the fat guys climb. When you have a peloton chasing a break away all out nothing can escape. The 15k down hill run-into the finish was just enough for the Rabobank and Gerolsteiner train to bring it back. In big races like the Tour de Suisse the peloton loves to let someone get away so then they can control the race from behind. That way it won’t be quite so hard.

It took 39 kilometers for Martin Elmiger to escape on Day Two. I am sure the Swiss racer wanted to get away so he could get some airtime in his home country. At one point he had an 18 minute lead, but that with all due respect, is nothing. With a finish like the Flumserberg that is 11 km with an average gradient of 9.5 percent it is easy to loose 20min if you’re not a climber. The peloton knows this. Teams will try to shelter their climbers as much as possible to set them up fresh for the finish. That’s what exactly happened in the race. At the bottom of the Flumserberg Elmiger had a 1'18 lead. He was quickly caught as the climbers found their wings. Spain took their second win today as Igor Anton Hernandez of Euskaltel showed he was in the best condition on the day over Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team High Road.

Robbie McEwen of team Silence – Lotto 3.50.05 (40.472 km/h) won over Oscar Freire on Stage 3. The race was plagued by on and off nasty weather. Rain and cold weather takes its tole, and in a race like this it will kill you. Igor Anton Hernandez still held on to the race lead. When you are good you are good. When you are on your team has no problem putting it all on the line for you.

McEwen showed in stage 4 of the Tour de Suisse that he is on and force to be reckoned with this year by winning the stage over Oscar Freire. Quick Step, Lotto and Milram had no problem controlling the race and keeping things in check for the bunch kick at the finish.

Teams scrambled to control the 5th stage of the Tour de Suisse. The more mountains and tougher terrain means a more aggressive race. In a contest like the Tour de Suisse that’s on all day every day, guys will start to get tired and the race will explode. German Markus Fothen fired a risky all or nothing attack joining Frank Schleck on the final climb of the day. The two worked together until Schleck took a turn too fast on the last descent. He flew over a guard rail going a good 65k a hour. Somehow he walked away without a scratch on him. Fothen rode away to victory taking the fifth stage. I am so happy for him. He is a super nice guy and also very talented.

In pro cycling it’s never over until it is over. Kim Kirchen of Team High Road took the sixth stage mountain-top finish and took the overall lead over Andreas Klöden.

A series of break-aways tried to escape on the 7th stage. When the overall classification is set and you really do not have chance to win a stage many guys just try to get their moment of spotlight and break away. I know because I did the same thing at the 2005 World Cycling Championships. Fabian Cancellara (CSC) showed why he is the reigning Time Trial world champion. Attacking on the final lap of the 27k circuit and blasting away from the rest with 5k he stole the race win from all the spinters just like he did earlier this year at Milian SanRemo. Incredible, that is sick when you can just ride away from everyone.

When you have a 25k uphill time trial there is no hiding from the clock It’s all or nothing and no holding back. When you’re good you’re good. When you are 22 years old and can out ride some of the best climbers in the world you are a huge threat and possibly the next big thing. Roman Kreuziger the 22 year old Czech rider of team Liquigas stamped his authority on the Tour de Suisse and his way into cycling leaving everyone, even myself, saying WOW! This kid has the goods. He beat the tiny climber José Rujano Guillen of team Caisse d'Epargne by 15 seconds and took the overall lead by 49 seconds over Andreas Klöden. This race being so close to the Tour de France I would expect more to come from him. Who knows? We might see the world’s youngest grand tour winner? Two is a lucky charm.

When you do a race in your home town and you are racing in front of your friends and family. The boost you get can be super-human. That’s exactly what Fabian Cancellara of Team CSC did today in his home town of Berne. He launched one of his kamikaze flying attacks with one K to go. The massive effort was good enough to steal the win from Philippe Gilbert.

The new 22 year old up coming star Roman Kreuziger of team Liquigas retained his lead over Andreas Klöden and Igor Anton Hernandez Euskaltel. I know his victory has left many stunned like myself asking what’s next?

- Saul