Swiss Gerolsteiner riders look to do well in Romandie

By Susan Westemeyer

Team Gerolsteiner is sending all three of its Swiss riders to the Tour de Romandie. Since the cancellation of the Züri Metzgete, there are only two major races in Switzerland, and naturally the riders want to do well in their homeland, they told Cyclingnews Tuesday afternoon before the start of the Tour's prologue.

Oliver Zaugg, of Arcegno, is a dark-horse candidate for the GC. "I want to build on my good performance in Paris-Nice in Romandie and continue to recommend myself for the Tour de France. We'll have to wait and see if we ride for GC or concentrate on escape groups."

Veteran Markus Zberg, of Oberhofen, will concentrate on those escapes. "My form is actually quite good. Perhaps I can play a role in one stage or another." The third Swissman is young neo-pro Mathias Frank, who said, "Of course I will primarily ride for the team. I am very much looking forward to the Tour de Romandie. I have always dreams of riding as pro in my own country."

See Cyclingnews' full coverage of the prologue of the Tour de Romandie.