Germany’s Tony Martin won Friday’s seventh-stage time trial to extend his overall race lead in the Tour de Suisse.
The Omega Pharma-QuickStep rider, the triple world time-trial champion, finished 22 seconds ahead of Dutch rider Tom Dumoulin after the 24.5km stage in Worb.
Portugal’s two-time defending champion Rui Costa was third-fastest, 28 seconds behind Martin.
Photo: EPA
It was the German’s second stage win after winning Saturday last week’s opening time trial.
He extended his overall lead to 28 seconds over Dumoulin, while Costa slipped to 1 minute, 5 seconds adrift heading into the final two mountain stages that feature summit finishes.
“I should have gained another minute,” said the 29-year-old, who faced a stiff challenge to hang on to his lead by the end of yesterday’s racing.
Home favorite and former world champion Fabian Cancellara took fourth place at 41 seconds, while 2011 Tour de France champion Cadel Evans clocked the 11th fastest time at 1 minute, 16 seconds.
Evans lies 15th overall and within touching distance of the leaders at 2 minutes, 7 seconds shy of Martin. Colombia’s ace climber Sergio Henao, who finished ninth in the 2012 Giro d’Italia, crashed in training before the stage and suffered a reportedly serious knee injury. The Sky rider was expected to play a supporting role in the defense of British rider Chris Froome’s Tour de France title when the race begins in Leeds, England, on July 5, but that could now be in doubt. Former world champion Tom Boonen of Belgium, who is still suffering from a hip injury suffered in a crash last week, also failed to make the starting line.
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