Vrecer bags TWO jerseys in Tour de Suisse

Robert Vrecer showed his versatility and all-round ability by winning both the mountains and the sprints classification at the Tour de Suisse on Saturday.

With tomorrow's ninth and concluding stage being a hill time trial, today's 180,5km stage from Zernez to Bad Ragaz would decide the winner of those particular competitions.

The Slovenian laid the groundwork by infiltrating the break of the day, before going on to secure both jerseys by winning an intermediate sprint and cresting the deciding cat.1 climb of Julierpass first.

It was an impressive return from the 32-year-old and a most needed on at that considering Euskaltel's lack of success at the race this year.

Today's eighth stage showed improvement, though, as the trio of Ion Izagirre, Jorge Azanza and Igor Antón all made it to the finish inside the 34-man lead group that was led across the line by, you guessed it, that man Peter Sagan.

Heading into Sunday's hill climb, Antón is the team's best rider on GC in 12th - a minute and 20 seconds off the top ten.

Results:

• (1, Peter Sagan (Cannondale), 4:33:26)
• 16, Ion Izagirre, s.t.
• 21, Igor Antón, s.t.
• 27, Jorge Azanza, s.t.
• 44, Juan José Oroz, 1:04
• 81, Ricardo Mestre, 3:53
• 94, Gorka Verdugo, s.t.
• 119, Robert Vrecer, 5:47
• 135, Adrián Sáez, s.t.

Photo: BCPT