Steven Kruijswijk wins 6th stage as Damiano retains his leader yellow jersey in 2011 Tour de Suisse
Rabobank team’s Steven Kruijswijk won the sixth stage of 2011 Tour de Suisse on Thursday, June 6. Damiano Cunego maintained his overall leader’s yellow jersey.
The race started in Tobel Tagerschen and ended in Triesenberg/Malbun. The 24-year-old Steven took a total of 4 hours, 12 minutes and 3 seconds to cover a distance of 157.7 kilometres.
Levi Leipheimer of RadioShack was in the runner's-up position with 9 seconds behind Steven. The overall race leader, Damiano Cunego, finished third with a difference of 18 seconds.
After winning the stage, Steven told the media, “I am very happy with my first win as a pro. I tried to be with Cunego, but then I went alone. I think the last kilometre to the finish was the hardest - I gave it everything I had and luckily I was able to
win.”
Recently, Steven grabbed overall ninth spot in 2011 Giro d’ltalia. He also took overall 18th spot in 2010 Giro d’ltalia.
The group of three riders made their first breakaway, which include Angel Madrazo (Movistar), Sylvain Chavanel (QuickStep), and Gorka Izagirre (Euskaltel-Euskadi).
All of them gained a lead of 4 minutes and 30 seconds over the peloton. Gorka Izagirre won the first sprint of the stage. When the race entered Balzers, Sylvain Chavanel attacked and took a lead in the second sprint.
In the final sprint, Leipheimer and Cunego worked together, but failed to gain a lead and with the help of Rabobank team. Steven crossed the finish-line and took his victory ahead of other cyclists.
Damiano Cunego of Lampre-ISD won the overall lead with a timing of 21 hours, 26 minutes and 28 seconds. Bauke Mollema of Rabobank was in second spot with 1 minute and 23 seconds adrift.
Cunego said, "What a tough climb, with high speed in the first part, it was not so simple to face it, I think I put in a quite good performance, since I increased the gap over my immediate followers.”
The stage winner, Steven Kruijswijk, finished third with a difference of 1 minute and 36 seconds.
The next stage will start in Vaduz (FL) and end in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis. All the riders will cover a distance of 222.8 kilometres.
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