Olympic champion Fabian Cancellara wins time trial stage to open Tour of Switzerland

Cancellara wins time trial to open Swiss tour

RUGGELL, Liechtenstein — Olympic time trial champion Fabian Cancellara won the opening stage of the Tour of Switzerland on Saturday.

The Swiss rider put aside four months of sickness and injury to finish the flat, 5-mile time trial in neighboring Liechtenstein in 9 minutes, 21 seconds.

Defending champion Roman Kreuziger of the Czech Republic was 19 seconds behind and Andreas Kloeden of Germany, runner-up last year, trailed Cancellara by 21 seconds.

George Hincapie of the United States was a further three seconds back as Team Columbia-Highroad riders finished fourth through seventh. The team also has British sprint specialist Mark Cavendish in the nine-day race.

Cancellara claimed just his second stage victory of the season, after winning the Tour of California prologue in February.

He pulled out of that race the next day with the flu and has been slowed by shoulder injuries since.

The Swiss race is the final significant preparation for the Tour de France, which starts July 4 in Monaco.

The second stage on Sunday is a 93-mile trek through the Alps starting and finishing in Davos.