Stage 7: Linthal - Malbun, 133.7 km

Jan Ullrich has lost the yellow jersey! In the Tour of Switzerland's hilly and dramatic Stage 6, from Limthal to Malbun over 133 km., the T-Mobile rider lost 38 seconds to stage winner Georg Totsching and surrendered the overall leader's mantle to stage runner-up Fabian Jeker (Swi - Saunier Duval-Prodir) of Switzerland.

It all happened in the last 3-4 km. of the final ascent, when Austria's Totschnig broke away from a field of some 10 riders, containing top overall contenders such as Ullrich, Jeker, Cioni etc., and embarked on solo chase of Phonak's Spaniard Santiago Pérez Segu, who at his turn had soloed away earlier on the climb, after the usual early breakaways, and some previous attacks courtesy of the likes of Steve Zampieri, Pavel Tonkov and a few others, were neutralized.

As the road was still tilting upwards, the Gerolsteiner team leader caught and dropped Pérez, but the big news back in the chasing bunch was that the man who's supposed to be Lance Armstrong's chief rival in the upcoming TdF couldn't hold the tempo set by 6-7 other riders, and got dropped, along with Caldirola's Steve Zampieri and Domina Vacanze's Russian Alexandr Kolobnev, with about 2.3 km to go. While Totsching's action up front was going on, the first chasing bunch splintered again, with just four riders trying to bridge the gap to Austria's National RR champion, and in the last kilometre only two of them remained: Fabian Jeker and Maia-Milaneza's Txema Del Olmo.

The Swissman forced the pace again, and with just 500m left, dropped the Spaniard and went for his next target: Totsching. But in a sensational final, the Austrian held on and saved a six-second margin over his chaser. Luxembourg's Frank Schleck (Team CSC) came out in the last hundred metres to take third place from Del Olmo, while Fassa's Dario Cioni put in another solid performance and finished fifth in the stage, 28" down on the winner. Ullrich limited his losses, and even gained a few positions, in the closing km., ending the stage in sixth, 38" behind Totschnig. American Tom Danielson also had a good performance and managed a top 15 finish, in the same time as Giuseppe Guerini (once more Ullrich's most precious domestique) and Pavel Tonkov.

As for the GC. Fabian Jeker is now leading the Austrian by 08", with Jan in third 32" behind, and Del Olmo (4th overall), Cioni (5th) and Tour of Germany champion Patrik Sinkewitz (6th) following.

Race Report

Numerous early attacks did not stick in the first 40 kilometers today, but finally two Mr.Bookmakers, Jeremy Hunt and Erwin Thijs, get a break that succeeds. At the 58 km mark, they have two minutes on the field, and at the 75 km mark they have four minutes' lead. Up ahead is the finish at the Malbun ski resort, a 13 km climb of 8.1 percent, where it is raining. Although the speed in the race is high, as it has been all week, the peloton does not make huge efforts to chase the two, awaiting the inevitable sorting out that will come on the Malbun.

At 23 to go, Ullrich is in tenth or eleventh position in the pack, and after the climb at Schellenberg, the lead of the two ahead has dropped to three minutes. The peloton moves in for the capture, and succeeds at 12 to go, at the foot of the ascent. Andrei Zintchenko (Milaneza Maia) goes off the front, perhaps preparing for his teammate Jose Maria Del Olmo.

On the ascent, the peloton breaks up - there are 20 ahead with Ullrich and his faithful Guerini in the group. Steve Zampieri and Georg Totschnig of Gerolsteiner try to come off the front of the Ullrich group. Tonkov tries to bridge, as does Sinkewitz, but they are both caught under the push by Ullrich and Guerini. Next to attack, at 6 km to go, is Santiago Perez Fernandez. Zampieri is having trouble keeping up.

At 2 km to go, Ullrich begins to lose some ground - a serious turn! Totschnig shakes off Perez Fernandez, and is 30 seconds ahead of Ullrich - going into today Totschnig was 25 seconds behind Ullrich on GC...

Under the flamme rouge Jeker and Del Olmo also attack! Totschnig crosses the line first, taking 38 seconds from Ullrich. Jeker crosses, taking 33 seconds and the yellow jersey! Frank Schleck gets himself into third, ahead of Del Olmo. What a day!

Today was a double day for Gerolsteiner and Saunier Duval-Prodir - Gerolsteiner's Danilo Hondo was declared the winner of the 5th stage of the Volta a Catalunya in Spain (teammate Rene Haselbacher was second) while Totschnig wins in Switzerland - Saunier Duval's  Jeker takes over the leader's Jersey in the Tour de Suisse, and his teammate Martin Perdiguero wears the leader's jersey for another day in the Spanish race.

Totschnig said of the stage today, "I had planned something for today - right here, near the Austrian border where I am supported by many fans - that was an additional incentive. I had looked at the route. I knew that the last two kilometers were very steep. Nevertheless I attacked."

He went on to say, "This is a dream, of course. Above all else, to have won so near the Austrian border."

Ullrich said, "I can live with this deficit, I had actually thought it would be more. Today the best mountain goats have shown their proficiency, but on Sunday, the time trial awaits, and there I will look for my chances." Ullrich's manager Rudy Pevenage said, "The Tour de Suisse is not the Tour de France. We must remain remain grounded. Jan already has much better form than in the Tour of Germany."

Results

1. Totschnig Georg (Gst) Aut 3:22:45
2. Jeker Fabian (Sdv) Sui +7
3. Schleck Frank (Csc) Lux +14
4. Del Olmo Jose Maria (Mil) Esp +17
5. Cioni Dario David (Fas) Ita +28
6. Ullrich Jan (Tmo) Ger +39
7. Perez Fernandez Santiago (Pho) Esp +41
8. Sinkewitz Patrik (Qsd) Ger +43
9. Petrov Evgeni (Sae) Rus +44
10. Zampieri Steve (Vin) Sui +1:02
11. Kolobnev Alexandr (Dve) Rus +1:14
12. Guerini Giuseppe (Tmo) Ita +1:22
13. Tonkov Pavel (Vin) Rus m.t.
14. Canada Gracia David (Sdv) Esp m.t.
15. Danielson Tom (Fas) Usa m.t.
16. Lavarinhas Rui (Mil) Por +1:36
17. Vila Francisco (Lam) Esp m.t.
18. Camenzind Oscar (Pho) Sui +2:00
19. Caucchioli Pietro (Alb) Ita +2:41
20. Sousa Rui (Mil) Por +2:45
21. Glomser Gerrit (Sae) Aut +3:11
22. Niermann Grischa (Rab) Ger m.t.
23. Moos Alexandre (Pho) Sui m.t.
24. Blaudzun Michael (Csc) Den +3:37
25. Julich Bobby (Csc) Usa m.t.
26. Gustov Volodymir (Fas) Ukr m.t.
27. Kashechkin Andrey (C.a) Kaz +3:48
28. Sabaliauskas Marius (Sae) Ltu +4:13
29. Ludewig Jörg (Sae) Ger m.t.
30. Cardoso Pedro (Mil) Por +4:34
31. Zintchenko Andrei (Mil) Rus +4:44
32. Castresana Angel (Mbp) Esp +4:49
33. Merckx Axel (Lot) Bel +4:58
34. Leblacher Eric (C.a) Fra +5:03
35. Commeyne Davy (Mbp) Bel +5:24
36. Codol Massimo (Fas) Ita +5:30
37. Veneberg Thorwald (Rab) Ned +5:36
38. Verbrugghe Rik (Lot) Bel +5:47
39. Schnider Daniel (Pho) Sui +6:05
40. Piatek Zbigniew (Cho) Pol m.t.
41. Garate Juan Manuel (Lam) Esp +6:13
42. Strauss Marcel (Gst) Sui +6:16
43. Bettini Paolo (Qsd) Ita +6:28
44. Gerosa Mauro (Vin) Ita +6:46
45. Bodrogi Laszlo (Qsd) Hun m.t.
46. Verheyen Geert (Cho) Bel +7:05
47. Fothen Marcus (Gst) Ger +7:11
48. Sunderland Scott (Alb) Aus +7:16
49. Elmiger Martin (Pho) Sui +8:25
50. Christensen Bekim (Csc) Den +8:34
51. Beuchat Roger (Vin) Sui +9:01
52. Thijs Erwin (Mbp) Bel +9:46
53. Cobo Acebo Juan Jose (Sdv) Esp +9:50
54. Joly Sébastien (C.a) Fra m.t.
55. Cortinovis Alessandro (Lam) Ita +9:53
56. Gentili Massimiliano (Dve) Ita +10:42
57. Nardello Daniele (Tmo) Ita +11:06
58. Kirchen Kim (Fas) Lux +11:41
59. Ivanov Ruslan (Alb) Mda m.t.
60. Serpellini Marco (Gst) Ita +12:00
61. Milesi Marco (Vin) Ita +12:10
62. Day Ben (Mbp) Aus +13:10
63. Aebersold Niki (Pho) Sui +15:51
64. Fuentes Angullo Juan (Sae) Esp m.t.
65. Cancellara Fabian (Fas) Sui m.t.
66. Zülle Alex (Pho) Sui m.t.
67. Castanheira Bruno (Mil) Por m.t.
68. Gousev Vladimir (Csc) Rus m.t.
69. Bertoletti Simone (Lam) Ita m.t.
70. Vansevenant Wim (Lot) Bel m.t.
71. Löwik Gerben (Cho) Ned m.t.
72. Botero Echeverry Santiago (Tmo) Col m.t.
73. Bernabeu David (Mil) Esp m.t.
74. Boven Jan (Rab) Ned m.t.
75. Voskamp Bart (Cho) Ned m.t.
76. Dean Julian (C.a) Nzl m.t.
77. Hinault Sébastien (C.a) Fra m.t.
78. Wauters Marc (Rab) Bel m.t.
79. Rast Grégory (Pho) Sui m.t.
80. Hammond Roger (Mbp) Gbr m.t.
81. Bramati Davide (Qsd) Ita m.t.
82. Calcagni Patrick (Vin) Sui m.t.
83. Marichal Thierry (Lot) Bel +16:35
84. Hunter Robert (Rab) Rsa +18:11
85. Bazhenov Alexandre (Dve) Rus m.t.
86. Jones Timothy (Dve) Zim m.t.
87. Wuyts Peter (Mbp) Bel m.t.
88. Barbero Sergio (Lam) Ita m.t.
89. Stevens Christophe (Cho) Bel m.t.
90. Joergensen René (Alb) Den m.t.
91. Ivanov Serguei (Tmo) Rus m.t.
92. Coenen Johan (Mbp) Bel m.t.
93. Hvastija Martin (Alb) Slo m.t.
94. Baldato Fabio (Alb) Ita m.t.
95. Den Bakker Maarten (Rab) Ned m.t.
96. D'hollander Glenn (Lot) Bel m.t.
97. Bortolami Gianluca (Lam) Ita m.t.
98. Hoffman Tristan (Csc) Ned m.t.
99. Aranaga Azkune Andoni (Cho) Esp m.t.
100. Ferrara Raffaele (Alb) Ita +18:27
101. Fagnini Gian Matteo (Dve) Ita m.t.
102. Wiggins Bradley (C.a) Gbr m.t.
103. Commesso Salvatore (Sae) Ita +18:30
104. Clerc Aurélien (Qsd) Sui +18:33
105. Fischer Murilo (Dve) Bra m.t.
106. Van Goolen Jurgen (Qsd) Bel m.t.
107. Hayman Mathew (Rab) Aus +18:37
108. Nazon Damien (C.a) Fra +18:52
109. Auge Stéphane (C.a) Fra m.t.
110. Hiemstra Bert (Cho) Ned +19:05
111. Hunt Jeremy (Mbp) Gbr +19:14
112. Ongarato Alberto (Fas) Ita +22:12
113. Chicchi Francesco (Fas) Ita m.t.
114. Lobato Elvira Ruben (Sdv) Esp m.t.
115. Bertogliati Rubens (Sdv) Sui m.t.
Dns McEwen Robbie (Lot) Aus
Dns Casagrande Francesco (Lam) Ita
Dns Weening Pieter (Rab) Ned
Dnf Loosli David (Sae) Sui
Dnf Zaugg Oliver (Sdv) Sui

General Classification after Stage 7

1. Jeker Fabian (Sdv) Sui 29:13:24
2. Totschnig Georg (Gst) Aut +8
3. Ullrich Jan (Tmo) Ger +32
4. Del Olmo Jose Maria (Mil) Esp +35
5. Cioni Dario David (Fas) Ita +46
6. Sinkewitz Patrik (Qsd) Ger +2:14
7. Guerini Giuseppe (Tmo) Ita +2:15
8. Petrov Evgeni (Sae) Rus +2:21
9. Canada Gracia David (Sdv) Esp +2:36
10. Camenzind Oscar (Pho) Sui +3:08
11. Zampieri Steve (Vin) Sui +3:26
12. Vila Francisco (Lam) Esp +4:14
13. Moos Alexandre (Pho) Sui +4:42
14. Kolobnev Alexandr (Dve) Rus +5:11
15. Lavarinhas Rui (Mil) Por +5:15
16. Julich Bobby (Csc) Usa +6:18
17. Merckx Axel (Lot) Bel +7:29
18. Tonkov Pavel (Vin) Rus +8:06
19. Niermann Grischa (Rab) Ger +8:12
20. Gustov Volodymir (Fas) Ukr +9:08
21. SABALIAUSKAS MARIUS (SAE) LTU +10:07
22. Zintchenko Andrei (Mil) Rus +10:22
23. Kashechkin Andrey (C.a) Kaz +10:54
24. Schnider Daniel (Pho) Sui +13:11
25. Bodrogi Laszlo (Qsd) Hun +13:49
...
37. Sunderland Scott (Alb) Aus +29:23
38. Beuchat Roger (Vin) Sui +30:21
43. Codol Massimo (Fas) Ita +32:15
47. Elmiger Martin (Pho) Sui +35:18
49. Aebersold Niki (Pho) Sui +36:39
50. Commeyne Davy (Mbp) Bel +38:26
53. Zülle Alex (Pho) Sui +41:43
54. Bettini Paolo (Qsd) Ita +42:37
57. Nardello Daniele (Tmo) Ita +44:53
59. Danielson Tom (Fas) Usa +45:18
60. Van Goolen Jurgen (Qsd) Bel +45:55
61. Garate Juan Manuel (Lam) Esp +46:54
67. Cancellara Fabian (Fas) Sui +54:25
68. Ivanov Serguei (Tmo) Rus +54:39
69. Strauss Marcel (Gst) Sui +55:32
81. Calcagni Patrick (Vin) Sui +1:07:21
83. Commesso Salvatore (Sae) Ita +1:09:10
93. Bortolami Gianluca (Lam) Ita +1:13:22
94. Clerc Aurélien (Qsd) Sui +1:13:44
96. Hiemstra Bert (Cho) Ned +1:14:27
105. Bertogliati Rubens (Sdv) Sui +1:16:39

Points Classification after Stage 7

1. Hunter Robert (Rab) Rsa 56
2. Jeker Fabian (Sdv) Sui 47
3. Ullrich Jan (Tmo) Ger 45
4. Totschnig Georg (Gst) Aut 30
5. Camenzind Oscar (Pho) Sui 26
6. Kolobnev Alexandr (Dve) Rus 22
7. Kirchen Kim (Fas) Lux 22
8. Del Olmo Jose Maria (Mil) Esp 21
9. Chicchi Francesco (Fas) Ita 20
10. Zampieri Steve (Vin) Sui 19

Mountains Classification after Stage 7

1. Aebersold Niki (Pho) Sui 48
2. Veneberg Thorwald (Rab) Ned 30
3. Beuchat Roger (Vin) Sui 24
4. Blaudzun Michael (Csc) Den 20
5. Elmiger Martin (Pho) Sui 17
6. Hunter Robert (Rab) Rsa 13
7. Jeker Fabian (Sdv) Sui 12
8. Totschnig Georg (Gst) Aut 8
9. Rast Grégory (Pho) Sui 6
10. Danielson Tom (Fas) Usa 6

Teams Classification after Stage 7

1. Phonak Hearing Systems  SUI 87:42:12
2. Milaneza Maia  POR +9:25
3. Fassa Bortolo  ITA +10:59
4. T-Mobile Team  GER +25:49
5. Saeco  ITA +35:27
6. Vini Caldirola - Nobili Rubinetterie  ITA +36:52
7. Lampre  ITA +45:19
8. Quick Step - Davitamon  BEL +47:55
9. Team CSC  DEN +48:56
10. Saunier Duval - Prodir  ESP +53:37
11. Credit Agricole  FRA +58:38
12. Gerolsteiner  GER +1:00:22
13. Lotto - Domo  BEL +1:05:47
14. Rabobank  NED +1:09:19
15. Domina Vacanze  ITA +1:33:54
16. Alessio-Bianchi  ITA +1:36:04
17. Mr. Bookmaker.com - Palmans  BEL +1:38:43
18. Chocolade Jacques Wincor - Nixdorf  BEL +2:06:56