Martin wins 8th stage of Tour of Switzerland; Valjavec retains slim overall lead

Martin wins 8th stage of Tour of Switzerland

CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland — Tony Martin of Germany has won the eighth stage of the Tour of Switzerland, and Tadej Valjavec of Slovenia clung to the overall lead.

Martin finished the 113-mile route in 4 hours, 12 minutes, 31 seconds on Saturday to record the sixth stage win in the Tour de France warmup for Team Columbia-Highroad. Four others riders with the American team have also won stages.

He edged Damiano Cunego of Italy, with Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland two seconds back. Valjavec was fourth.

Cancellara cut Valjavec’s overall lead to four seconds.

Sunday’s final stage is a 24-mile time trial that starts and finishes in Bern. Cancellara, the Olympic time trial champion, is favored to win the stage and the overall race in his hometown.