Italian Damiano Cunego of Lampre retained the race leader's yellow jersey after the penultimate day of climbing in the mountains to boost his chances of overall victory Sunday.

Early in the stage one of Cunego's rivals, Colombian Juan Mauricio Soler, was transported to hospital for scans after crashing out of the race. The Movistar rider had been 54secs adrift in second place overall before abandoning.

The race continues Friday with a 222.8 km race from Vaduz in Liechtenstein to Serfaus in Austria.

It finishes Sunday with a 32.1km time trial in Schaffhouse.

American cycling team HTC-Highroad said they still hoped to keep top British sprinter Mark Cavendish on board as reports of his move to Team Sky resurfaced Thursday.

A report in London's Dail Mail claimed that the Isle of Man rider, who has 15 stage wins from the Tour de France, will sign a deal worth £1.5 million ($2.4m) to start for Team Sky in 2012.

Cavendish has in the past been linked to British outfit Team Sky and his contract with HTC-Highroad expires at the end of the year.

Cavendish is currently competing at the Tour of Switzerland this week, but refused to make any comment at the start of the fifth stage here Thursday.

HTC-Highroad sporting director Allan Peiper said however he hoped that any interested parties would respect the August 1 inter-season negotiating period put in place by the International Cycling Union (UCI).

The Australian added that HTC-Highroad, whose victory count over the past years is unrivalled in the peloton, would do their best to keep hold of the Manxman.

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1. Steven Kruijswijk (Netherlands / Rabobank) 4hrs 12mins 03secs

2. Levi Leipheimer (U.S. / RadioShack) +9"

3. Damiano Cunego (Italy / Lampre) +18"

4. Bauke Mollema (Netherlands / Rabobank) +21"

5. Giampaolo Caruso (Italy / Katusha)

6. Frank Schleck (Luxembourg / Leopard) +30"

7. Mathias Frank (Switzerland / BMC Racing)

8. Laurens ten Dam (Netherlands / Rabobank) +1:19"

9. Jakob Fuglsang (Denmark / Leopard) +1:27"

10.Tom Danielson (U.S. / Garmin) +1:42"
 
Overall standings

1. Damiano Cunego (Italy / Lampre) 21hrs 26mins 28secs

2. Bauke Mollema (Netherlands / Rabobank) +1:23"

3. Steven Kruijswijk (Netherlands / Rabobank) +1:36"

4. Frank Schleck (Luxembourg / Leopard) +1:41"

5. Levi Leipheimer (U.S. / RadioShack) +1:59"

6. Laurens ten Dam (Netherlands / Rabobank) +2:24"

7. Jakob Fuglsang (Denmark / Leopard) +2:45"

8. Mathias Frank (Switzerland / BMC Racing) +3:00"

9. Giampaolo Caruso (Italy / Katusha) +3:11"

10.Tejay Van Garderen (U.S. / HTC - Highroad) +3:22"