Rui Costa Wins Third Consecutive Tour de Suisse

The current world champion on the road took the final stage, winning the general classification for an unprecedented third year in a row

SAAS-FEE, June 22, 2014 (AFP) — Portugal's Rui Costa won the Tour of Switzerland title for an unprecedented third time in a row on Sunday after riding to victory in the ninth and final stage.



World road race champion Costa, who finished third in the Tour of Romandie last month, sets himself up as a candidate for the Tour de France which starts on July 5.



The Portuguese rider went off with a breakaway group under cloudy skies at the 46km mark with his advantage on the peloton, in which Martin found himself, more than two minutes 20km from the line.

Attacking on the final two kilometer climb Costa left no chance to his fellow breakaway riders including home hope Frank, who had the consolation of second in the overall standings.

Stage 9 Results
1. Rui Costa (POR/LAM) 4hr 13min 14sec (average: 37.1 km/h),
2. Bauke Mollema (NED/BKN) at 0:14sec,
3. Mathias Frank (SWI/IAM) 0:24,
4. Steve Morabito (SUI/BMC) 0:47,
5. Oliver Zaugg (SWI/TIN) 0:47,
6. André Cardoso (POR/GRM) 1:28,
7. Jeremy Roy (FRA/FDJ) 1:41,
8. Marcel Wyss (SWI/IAM) 1:48,
9. Tom Dumoulin (NED/GIA) 2:18,
10. Roman Kreuziger (CZE/TIN) 2:18.

Overall Standings
1. Rui Costa (POR/LAM) 33h 08min 35sec,
2. Mathias Frank (SUI/IAM) at 0:33,
3. Bauke Mollema (NED/BKN) 0:50,
4. Tony Martin (GER/OPQ) 1:13,
5. Tom Dumoulin (NED/GIA) 2:04,
6. Steve Morabito (SUI/BMC) 2:47,
7. Davide Formolo (ITA/CAN) 3:00,
8. Roman Kreuziger (CZE/TIN) 3:03,
9. Janier Acavedo (COL/GRM) 3:20,
10. Eros Capecchi (ITA/MOV) 3:46.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
More From Racing