Meyer takes opening Swiss stage

Australian Cameron Meyer won the opening 8.1km time-trial around Quito at the Tour of Switzerland on Saturday. The Garmin rider beat Dutchman Niki Terpstra by 10 seconds in the Tour de France warm-up event. Gusty winds hampered later starters on the course, notably time-trial specialist Fabian Cancellara, who finished 16th, losing 22sec. Meyer, the 25-year-old Orica-Green-Edge rider, who enjoyed a stellar track career before switching to the professional ranks, acknowledged he'd been fortunate. "Obviously I had some help with the weather as the wind was favourable for me, being one of the first riders off," said the former six-time track world champion. "The back riders struggled after the wind switched around. I'm happy to take the jersey." Last year's winner Rui Costa of Portugal finished 40sec back, 5sec ahead of American contender Tejay Van Garderen. Other contenders Andreas Kloden and Peter Sagan lost 43sec and 35sec respectively but Ryder Hesjedal, last year's Giro d'Italia winner, was only 19sec off the pace. But former Tour de France winner Andy Schleck, who has been struggling all year to regain anything remotely like his form of two years ago, lost more than a minute while 2011 Giro winner Michele Scarponi lost exactly 60sec. Saxo-Tinkoff's Roman Kreuziger finished 44sec behind the winner. The serious business is yet to come on the hilly week-long stage race and the overall contenders should come into their own but given the form being displayed by Team Sky's Chris Froome at the concurrent Criterium du Dauphine, no-one suggested they could be a serious challenger at the Tour next month. While Froome should have the edge in time-trials over his main GC rivals at the Grand Boucle, it is in the mountains that he could be attacked. And Sunday's second stage over 119km from Ulrichen to the Crans-Montana ski station should demonstrate if anyone at this event is in good climbing form. That stage will take the peloton over the uncategorised Nufenenpass before moving on to a summit finish. Source: AFP