KIRCHEN STILL LEADS TOUR DE SUISSE

(June 20, 2008) Team High Road’s Kim Kirchen holds onto the yellow jersey after Stage 7 of the Tour de Suisse. The Luxembourger claimed the jersey after his spectacular Stage 6 win on Thursday June 19.

Riding the prototype Giant TCR Advanced SL bicycle, Kirchen’s teammates spent most of Stage 7 controlling the race, keeping an eye on the breakaways.

Going into stage 8’s mountain time trial, Kirchen is hoping he can hold onto the yellow jersey. He told cyclingnews.com: “I am not sure how it will go. It is very long and like the other riders I am a bit nervous. With the yellow jersey on my shoulders this is not the usual situation. 25 kilometers is quite long; it will be necessary to make a big effort. I think tomorrow the strongest riders will be to the front I think the Tour de Suisse will be decided there.”

A compete account of Stage 7 can be found at:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/jun08/suisse08/?id=results/suisse087