Four-time world champion Fabian Cancellara stuck to tradition by powering to victory in the opening stage time trial at the Tour of Switzerland on Saturday. Cancellara has won the opening time trial four times since 2003 and did not disappoint the thousands of fans who lined scenic Lake Lugano by finishing the hilly 7.3 km course in 9min 41.8sec. American Tejay Van Garderen of HTC-Highroad impressed by finishing second at only 9secs adrift with Slovakian Peter Sagan, of Liquigas, in third place at 17. “I’m very happy because I was feeling a little bit nervous before the start. I saw that there was almost double the number of spectators compared to last year,” said Cancellara.
“I had two big fears today: suffering a mechanical problem and having to do the downhill section like a man possessed.” Cancellara did come close to suffering a mechanical problem, the Swiss starting the race in jittery fashion when he experienced a minor problem with his electronic gear shifters. However unlike teammate Andy Schleck, who had to change bikes due to a mechanical problem and finished 1min 18sec off the pace, it was a blip on an otherwise commanding performance. Still, Cancellara — who now has five victories from opening time trials or prologues in the race — admitted: “It was a lot harder than last year’s opening stage.”
