Rui Costa Wins 76th Tour de Suisse, 17. June 2012

Tanel Kangert from Estonia wins the final stage of this year?s Tour de Suisse from Näfels to Sörenberg (216 km). Portuguese rider Rui Costa manages to defend his lead in the overall ranking and wins the 76th Tour de Suisse. Today?s stage from Näfels to Sörenberg was very exciting until the last few kilometers of the race.

Tanel Kangert from Estonia wins the final stage of this year?s Tour de Suisse from Näfels to Sörenberg (216 km). Portuguese rider Rui Costa manages to defend his lead in the overall ranking and wins the 76th Tour de Suisse. Today?s stage from Näfels to Sörenberg was very exciting until the last few kilometers of the race.

During the climb up to the Glaubenberg pass, overall second-placed Fränk Schleck launched an attack for the tour win. But the distance to go until the finish in Sörenberg was too long ? and the peloton managed to catch up with Schleck. A little while later, overall eight-placed Steven Kruijswijk also tried to break away from the peloton, but his attack didn?t turn out successful either.

Costa?s Two Stage Wins the Foundation for Overall Triumph

After Rui Costa found himself on the verge of losing the overall Tour de Suisse lead during the stage up to Arosa on Saturday, the Portuguese was able to show a more convincing race in the final stage today. Furthermore, he was fortunate that he could count on Alejandro Valverde?s magnificent support: Costa?s teammate gave everything he had until his energy faded away and contributed a considerable part to Rui Costa?s overall Tour de Suisse win - the first ever Portuguese to do so.

Costa laid the foundation for the biggest triumph of his career last Sunday with his stage win in Verbier and a strong performance in the time trial in Gossau on Friday. Mathias Frank, the best Swiss rider this week, finished the Tour de Suisse in 12th place and also owes a big part of this good overall ranking to his impressive effort in the race against the clock on Friday.

Another Premiere at the Tour de Suisse

Today?s finish in Sörenberg saw a second premiere: Tanel Kangert was the first ever Estonian professional to win a stage at the Tour de Suisse. Kangert was part of a breakaway group that was in the lead for 165 km. In the end, two riders remained and, in the final sprint, Kangert easily beat Jérémy Roy (FRA). His victory today was the Estonian rider?s first ever win as a professional.