Oliver Zaugg of Team Gerolsteiner finished fifth in Sunday's difficult mountaintop finish of the Vuelta a España, and surprised even Directeur Sportif Reimund Dietzen. "I had hoped that Oliver would ride well. But it is super that he is doing so well. His fifth place is an outstanding result."
The little Swiss rider is now the best-placed Gerolsteiner in the race, in 22nd overall.
His performance is all the more surprising in light of the fact that he had to drop out of the Giro d'Italia this year with knee problems. It was so bad, in fact, that he underwent surgery the beginning of June. He is making a successful comeback, though, having finished 15th overall by his comeback in the Regio Tour last month. The 26 year-old spent two years with Saunier Duval-Prodir before signing with the German team for 2007.
