Tour de Suisse (2012) Photos June 9 - 17

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Peter Sagan on the climb before the twisty descent. The 7.3 km course was the same as last year.	Peter Sagan was only one or two seconds off his teammate's, Moreno Moser, best intermediate time at the top of the climb	Thanks to a balanced climbing and descending performance on the TT bike, Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale) beat the home favorite, Fabian Cancellara with a time of 9:43
Fabian Cancellara (RadioShack-Nissan) was 4s slower than Sagan and 5s slower than his winning time from last year on the same Lugano course	The surprise of the day was 21 year-old Moreno Moser (Liquigas-Cannondale) who held the early lead for most of the stage. He settled for 3rd + 7s.	Sprinters often to well in short prologues but this course was 7.3 km long with a climb and a technical descent. Stage 1 winner, Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale), is now one of the most well-rounded riders of his generation.
Winning the stage 1 TT/prologue, of course, gives 23 year old Peter Sagan the first Yellow Jersey	And more kisses	Podium kiss close-up
	Mixed among the Reuters' Tour de Suisse photos today were a bunch of photos from the World Naked Bike Ride from around the globe. (This one's from Madrid). World Naked Bike Ride is an international clothing-optional bike ride in which participants plan, meet and ride together en masse to "deliver a vision of a cleaner, safer, body-positive world."

Stage 2:  Verbania → Verbier, 218 km  Full Results and Report

The peloton going over the cat 1 Simplon Pass early in the race	Ryan Anderson (Spidertech powered by C10), today's most combative rider, and Alessandro Bazzana (Team Type 1 – Sanofi) stayed away through the valley until the base of the finishing climb to Verbier (photo courtesy of Team SpiderTech)	Frank Schleck attacked on Verbier with 6 km to go
Frank Schleck looking to get a rare win for RadioShack-Nissan this year	But, Rui Costa (Movistar) attacked off the peloton with 2km to go and was catching Schleck who had a 30s advantage	Mikel Nieve (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and John Gadret (AG2R La Mondiale)
Levi Leipheimer (OPQS, 13th) and Tom Danielson (Garmin-Barracuda. 12th) finished + 22s		Valvarde among other riders
Rui Costa checks his margin of victory over Frank Schleck after catching him with 200m to go	The finish in Verbier where Alberto Contador won at the 2009 Tour de France	Frank Schleck settles for 2nd + 4s
3rd Mikel Nieve (Euskaltel-Euskadi) + 12s and 4th 4th Giampaolo Caruso (Katusha) + 13s	Panaramic shot of trailing riders finishing on Verbier	Your stage 2 winner from Portugal, Rui Costa (Movistar)
Also, the new race leader by 8s over Frank Schleck

Stage 3:  Martigny → Aarberg, 195 km  Full Results and Report

Today had a dodgy sprint finish in Aarberg that an Italian like Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre - ISD) would like, but he finished 18th + 3s.	The peloton passing by Lake Geneva on its way north to Bern on a wet day in western Switzerland	Thanks to a train stopping the pursuing peloton at a crossing for two minutes (video), the three man break entered in Aarberg with a healthy advantage but they were reeled back in the final km.
The peloton entering Aarberg for the first time	The peloton with race leader, Rui Costa (Movistar), passing through the finish in Aarberg before the hilly, technical finishing circuit	After the break was caught, Baden Cooke (Orica - GreenEdge) led the way through the final corner
... followed by Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale) and Ben Swift (Sky). Sagan had to briefly unclip one pedal to regain his balance shortly just after this photo.	Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Barracuda) was passed by four riders in the dash for the line including Jacopo Guarnieri (Astana) who finished 4th + 3s	Daniele Colli (Team Type 1 - Sanofi) on his way to 9th
Despite unclipping to avoid sliding out on one of the last wet, dodgy corners at the stage 2 finish in Aarberg, Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale) collected himself like a seasoned pro and sprinted to victory	Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Canondale) survived the tricky damp corners near the finish to pip Baden Cooke (Orica-GreenEdge), the lead out man for Allen Davis, at the line.	Close-up: While Sagan celebrates another win, Cooke utters something under his breathe
Ben Swift (Sky) crossed 3rd	Your stage 3 winner, Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Canondale)	Rui Costa (Movistar) survived his first day in the Yellow Jersey
Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Canondale) strengthened his lead in the points competition

Stage 4:  Aarberg → Trimbach/Olten, 189 km  Full Results and Report

Movistar at the front of the chase on the finishing circuit	Didi enjoying the devilish weather	Liquigas' Moreno Moser at the front late in the stage. He was the only lead out man needed by Peter Sagan today.
Despite appearances, Peter Sagan was never in trouble on this hilly, technical stage in the pouring rain	Laurens ten Dam, Levi Leipheimer and a Team Type 1 rider using his sunglasses to shield the road splash	The rain-drenched sprint finish in full flight
Making it look easy	Two stage wins for Peter Sagan… so far at this year's Tour de Suisse (actually, three if you include the prologue). More to come most likely. 2nd Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Movistar), 3rd Michael Albasini (Orica GreenEdge), 4th Heinrich Haussler (Garmin-Barracuda)	Between the Tour of California (his last race in May) and the Tour de Suisse through stage 4, Peter Sagan has now won an amazing 8 of 12 stages
	Your stage 4 winner, Peter Sagan (Liquigas).	It was an uncomfortable day for everyone including the race leader, Rui Costa (Movistar)

Stage 5:  Trimbach/Olten → Gansingen, 193 km  Full Results and Report

Today's break slogging through another day in the rain	The break, represented by seven different teams, starting the first of two circuits around Gansingen.	With the break having enough representation from the sprinter teams, the peloton was ineffective at reeling them in
The rain stopped for the break on the first circuit. In the break were: Klaas Lodewyck (BMC) and Daniel Oss (Liquigas-Cannondale), Ruben Perez (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Sebastien Minard (AG2R), Karsten Kroon (Saxo Bank), Vladimir Isaichev (Katusha) and Salvatore Puccio (Sky)	The weather improved from the last time around; the break passing through Gansingen for the final circuit	The front and rear of the peloton as they pass through Gansingen
With none of the riders in the break being a treat on GC, Movistar allowed a large gap to open up	There was lots of attacks and counterattacks from the break in the final kms during the third approach to Gansingen	In the end, Vladimir Isaichev (Katusha) powered his way to his first pro win with a enough of a margin to through up a one-armed victory salute before crossing the line. 2nd was Ruben Perez (Euskaltel-Euskadi), who tried to pip him at the line.
3rd Salvatore Puccio (Sky Procycling), 4th Karsten Kroon (Saxo Bank)	More than a eleven minutes later, Elia Viviani (Liquigas-Cannondale) won the field sprint for 8th	The broom wagon came through shortly after the peloton
Your stage 5 winner, Russia's Vladimir Isaichev (Katusha)	The 26 year-old, 4th year pro enjoying his first win	Rui Costa (Movistar) gets another Yellow Jersey as once again there were no changes at the top of the GC for the third day in a row
Vladimir Isaichev (Katusha) also took the Green KOM jersey off the back of Frank Schleck today

Stage 6:  Wittnau → Bischofszell, 199 km  Full Results and Report

The four man break hitting the two finishing circuits around Bischofszell	Matteo Montaguti (AG2R La Mondiale) and Troels Ronning Vinther (Saxo Bank) ended up being the two remaining riders when the break was caught with several kms to go	Tour de Suisse love their finishing circuits. The break consisting of Matteo Montaguti (AG2R La Mondiale), Troels Ronning Vinther (Saxo Bank), Baden Cooke (Orica-GreenEdge), Vicente Reynes (Lotto Belisol) somewhere around Bischofszell
Into the final corners at the finish after the break was caught. Michael Albasini (Orica GreenEdge) and Alessandro Bazzana (Team Type 1 - Sanofi) lead the way followed by Ben Swift (Sky), obscured and guess who, Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale)	Frank Schleck and race leader Rui Costa	Peter Sagan (Liquigas) once agan maneuvered his way to the front and took the slight uphill sprint finish from Ben Swift (Sky)
The sprint finish spread out all over the road	Peter Sagan's victory salute	He's now won 9 of his last 13 races
Your stage 6 winner, Peter Sagan (Liquigas)	The winner received a lantern today	Rui Costa will wear the Yellow Jersey and be the last rider off in tomorrow's 34 km time trial
Four wins this week by Peter Sagan

Stage 7:  Gossau → Gossau, 34 km (TT)  Full Results and Report

1st KESSIAKOFF, Fredrik Carl Wilhelm (ASTANA) 34 km (lumpy, narrow, technical) in 46:36	Fabian Cancellara certainly had his game face on today	Fabian Cancellara out on the course setting a best time
But, he would have to settle for second at the end of the day losing by just 2s. When was the last year Cancellara didn't get a stage win at the Tour de Suisse?	3rd MONFORT, Maxime (RADIOSHACK-NISSAN) + 0:20	5th GESINK, Robert (RABOBANK) + 0:27 which moves him up to 3rd overall + 55s
An unexpectedly good TT by the race leader... 8th FARIA DA COSTA, Rui Alberto (MOVISTAR) + 0:41 to strengthen his overall lead	15th KREUZIGER, Roman (ASTANA) + 1:16	Roman Kreuziger moved up one spot to 2nd overall + 50s
16th LEIPHEIMER, Levi (OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP) + 1:19, now 5th overall + 1:15	18th VALVERDE BELMONTE, Alejandro (MOVISTAR) + 1:22, now 4th overall + 1:04	19th DANIELSON, Thomas (GARMIN-BARRACUDA) + 1:24, now 6th overall + 1:12
Tommy D looking dialed in	23rd SCHLECK, Frank (RADIOSHACK-NISSAN), slipping from 2nd to 5th overall + 1:04	Frank Schleck looking aero
Other notables. Another French rider who can't time-trial? Lets give the 22 year-old a little time. 30th PINOT, Thibaut (FDJ-BIG MAT) + 2:04, drops out of the top 10 after going in 4th overall.	The prologue winner and winner of three road stages, Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale) was 52nd + 2:37	Swede, Fredrik Kessiakoff (Astana) is your Stage 7 winner, upsetting the local favorite Fabian Cancellara. His first win as a pro.
Nonetheless, the Swiss podium women still like a good winner	Looking confident now, race leader Rui Costa (Movistar) comes out of the time-trial with a solid lead of 50s over his nearest rival (Roman Krueziger)

Stage 8:  Bischofszell → Arosa, 148 km  Full Results and Report

Michael Albasini (Orica-GreenEdge) soloing up the final climb to Arosa as the sole survivor of the break	Frank Schleck (RadioShack-Nissan) attacked off the remains of the peloton and brought Mikel Nieve (Euskaltel - Euskadi) and Levi Leipheimer (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) with him	Good news and bad news today for Tom Danielson (Garmin-Barracuda). He's only 43s off the lead now, but he's dropped down one position on GC to 7th (Levi Leipheimer was previously behind him). Robert Gesink (Rabobank) passed Danielson today at the finish for 5th and is now 4th + 25s.
Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) sacrificed his own GC chances to pace race leader and teammate Rui Costa who had his worst day of the race	A popular win at the Arosa ski resort as Swiss GreenEdge rider, Michael Albasini, wins the second mountain stage
Lots of salt stains	Mikel Nieve (Euskaltel - Euskadi) crossed 2nd + 1:15 (5th on GC + 40s) while Levi Leipheimer (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) pips Frank Schleck (RadioShack-Nissan) for the third place bonus seconds. Schleck is now 2nd at just + 14s while Leipheimer is 3rd, back in the game, + 21s.	A bad day for race leader, Rui Costa (Movistar), although he retains the race lead and we'll have a more exciting final mountain stage on Sunday then expected. He finished 14th today and his lead has been trimmed from 50s to 14s.
The grupetto working its way up to Arosa	Arosa is also popular in the summer	Your stage 8 winner and the new KOM leader, Michael Albasini (Orica-GreenEdge)

Stage 9:  Näfels-Lintharena → Sörenberg, 216 km  Full Results and Report

1st pass through Sörenberg by the the main break. After numerous attempts, this was the break that was authorized by the leading team, Movistar	The break consisted of Jeremy Roy (FDJ-BigMat), Brent Bookwalter (BMC), Kris Boeckmans (Vacansoleil-DCM), Tanel Kangert (Astana) and Matteo Montaguti (Ag2r-La Mondiale)	The peloton led by Movistar and RadioShack-Nissan
Big crowds lining the streets of Sörenberg	On the final climb to Sörenberg only Tanel Kangert (Astana) and Jeremy Roy remained	A threatening group of GC contenders including Steven Kruijswijk (Rabobank) attacked up the road and finished in between the two earlier escapees and the GC contenders
Near the finish, Nicolas Roche (Ag2R) attacked off the front of the Yellow Jersey group	Levi Leipheimer at the front protecting his 3rd place podium spot followed by the race leader, Rui Costa (Movistar)	Tanel Kangert (Astana) won the sprint against Jeremy Roy (FDJ)
Biggest win of 25 year-old Tanel Kangert's career which is especially sweet after coming off a career ending knee injury	Frank Schleck (RadioShack-Nissan) led in the GC contenders for 8th + 1:48 which included the celebrating race leader, Rui Costa (Movistar)	Rui Costa celebrating with Movistar teammate, Alejandro Valverde, who did a lot of work at the front of the chase through the valley and the base of the final climb
Your stage 9 winner, Tanel Kangert (Astana)	Rui Costa (Movistar) recovered from yesterday's near collapse to claim the overall win today
Your 2012 Tour de Suisse GC podium: 2nd Frank SCHLECK (RADIOSHACK-NISSAN) + 0:14, 1st Rui COSTA (MOVISTAR) 35:54:49, 3rd Levi LEIPHEIMER (OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP) + 0:21. Schleck and Leipheimer were the winners in 2010 and 2011, respectively.	Dropped from the break near the finish, but the overall winner of the KOM competition: Matteo MONTAGUTI (AG2R LA MONDIALE)