Phonak for Zurich

The Phonak Cycling Team will be competing in its last home race at the Züri-Metzgete on Sunday, October 1. With last year's winner and newly crowned world champion Paolo Bettini (Quick.Step) present, along with Swiss time-trial world champion Fabian Cancellara (CSC) and Vuelta champion Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana), it promises to be a tough race.

Last year, Phonak's best placed rider was Gregory Rast, who was 11th and benefited from the adverse weather conditions. "But it's going to be difficult for me to repeat that good result because the very demanding race in terms of its topography – with a climb up Pfannenstiel as the main hurdle – isn't well-suited for me."

He is still looking forward to the home race and the support of his family and fans who will be there, and is trying to approach the race like any other. He is also aware that this will be one of his last races with Phonak, but isn't sad yet. "At the last race of the season, the Tour of Lombardy, things will be different because it hurts that the time with Phonak Cycling is coming to an end."

Full team roster: Aurélien Clerc, Martin Elmiger, Steve Morabito, Gregory Rast, Florian Stalder, Johann Tschopp, Uros Murn and Victor Hugo Peña. Management: John Lelangue, Adriano Baffi, Monika Zürcher.