LUGANO, Switzerland, 21 June 2004 — German Jan Ullrich won the Tour of Switzerland by one second yesterday after a blistering performance on the final 25.6-km time trial around Lugano.
Ullrich, using the event to prepare for next month’s Tour de France where he will lead the opposition to American five-times winner Lance Armstrong, set the fastest time on the ninth stage with 31 minutes and 36 seconds.
Ullrich of T-Mobile was 41 seconds adrift of Saunier Duval’s Swiss rider Fabian Jeker before the time trial and claimed overall victory by the narrowest of margins.
“To win the Tour of Switzerland is a big highlight for me,” Ullrich said.
“I guessed and speculated the time I needed during the stage. But on the way I did believe is was possible for success. I’m very happy.”
Jeker, the last man to complete the trial, lost 24 seconds to 1997 Tour de France champion Ullrich in the first sector of the stage and was unable to recover as he set the sixth best time.
“Jan won,” said a tearful Jeker. “I go away with my head raised for second place on the podium. I fought to my limits.”
Quick Step’s Laszlo Bodrogi of Hungary and Swiss Fabian Cancellara, of the Fassa Bortolo team, were second and third on the final stage respectively. Ullrich had held the lead of the event until Friday’s seventh stage, having won the opening stage last Saturday, before producing his best in the time trial.
Ullrich will now attempt to become only the third man to follow up victory in the Tour of Switzerland with success in the Tour de France after Eddy Merckx in 1974 and Armstrong in 2001.
Italian David Cioni claimed the final place on the podium for Fassa Bortolo after outpacing Austrian Georg Totschnig of the Gerolsteiner team to take third overall.
