Costa eyes victory, Albasini takes stage
GreenEdge rider Michael Albasini clinched the eighth and penultimate stage of the Tour of Switzerland on Saturday while Portugal's yellow jerser wearer Rui Costa held on to his chances of overall victory.
Switzerland's Albasini broke away 17km from the end of Saturday's stage, a 148km ride from Bischofszell to Arosa, to finish ahead of Spain's Mikel Nieve and Levi Leipheimer of the United States.
Luxembourg's Frank Schleck, who is Costa's closest rival in the overall standings, was fourth on the stage, but Portugal's Costa, of the Movistar team, will still go into Sunday's final stage with a 14-second lead.
Costa was 14th on Saturday, 50 seconds behind Schleck.
STAGE 8 RESULTS
1. Michael Albasini (Switzerland / Orica) 3:45:39"
2. Mikel Nieve (Spain / Euskaltel) +1:15"
3. Levi Leipheimer (U.S. / Omega Pharma - Quick-Step)
4. Fraenk Schleck (Luxembourg / RadioShack)
5. Robert Gesink (Netherlands / Rabobank) +1:36"
6. Thibaut Pinot (France / FDJ)
7. Tom Danielson (U.S. / Garmin)
8. Steven Kruijswijk (Netherlands / Rabobank) +1:39"
9. Roman Kreuziger (Czech Republic / Astana) +1:57"
10. Jakob Fuglsang (Denmark / RadioShack)
11. Nicolas Roche (Ireland / AG2R) +2:05"
12. Giampaolo Caruso (Italy / Katusha)
13. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar)
14. Rui Costa (Portugal / Movistar)
15. Thomas Loefkvist (Sweden / Team Sky)
16. Chris Sorensen (Denmark / Saxo Bank) +2:25"
17. Robert Kiserlovski (Croatia / Astana)
18. Mathias Frank (Switzerland / BMC Racing)
19. Mikel Astarloza (Spain / Euskaltel) +2:38"
20. Gorka Izagirre (Spain / Euskaltel)
OVERALL STANDINGS
1. Rui Costa (Portugal / Movistar) 29:58:39"
2. Fraenk Schleck (Luxembourg / RadioShack) +14"
3. Levi Leipheimer (U.S. / Omega Pharma - Quick-Step) +21"
4. Robert Gesink (Netherlands / Rabobank) +25"
5. Mikel Nieve (Spain / Euskaltel) +40"
6. Roman Kreuziger (Czech Republic / Astana) +42"
7. Tom Danielson (U.S. / Garmin) +43"
8. Steven Kruijswijk (Netherlands / Rabobank) +1:01"
9. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar) +1:04"
10. Thibaut Pinot (France / FDJ) +1:13"
11. Thomas Loefkvist (Sweden / Team Sky) +1:22"
12. Jakob Fuglsang (Denmark / RadioShack) +1:26"
13. Nicolas Roche (Ireland / AG2R) +1:52"
14. Chris Sorensen (Denmark / Saxo Bank) +2:12"
15. Mathias Frank (Switzerland / BMC Racing) +2:23"
16. Robert Kiserlovski (Croatia / Astana) +2:44"
17. Vladimir Gusev (Russia / Katusha) +3:09"
18. Bart De Clercq (Belgium / Lotto) +3:18"
19. Mikel Astarloza (Spain / Euskaltel) +3:21"
20. Giampaolo Caruso (Italy / Katusha) +3:27"
