Cavendish sprints ahead in Bad Zurzach

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Mark Cavendish won the sixth stage of the Tour de Suisse Thursday in Bad Zurzach over Oscar Freire (Rabobank) and Francesco Gavazzi (Lampre - N.G.C.). Team Columbia-Highroad teammate George Hincapie led him up to the final 175 metres.

Slovenian Tadej Valjavec (AG2R La Mondiale) kept the race lead he took on Tuesday's stage to Stäfa. He leads over Swiss riders Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank), nine seconds back, and Oliver Zaugg (Liquigas), 14 seconds behind, with three days remaining. Cancellara picked up five seconds via bonus sprints during the stage to break the tie with Zaugg and move into second place alone.

"It was easy to win here today," said Cavendish. "Hincapie brought me good into position and I moved around Hushovd."

The sprinter admitted that he was "quite tired" going into the stage. He called the closing course "difficult, technical and challenging" and said that the last few kilometres were "very physical."

"There was a second category climb at the beginning of the stage and a headwind for most of the day," said Cavendish. "It made it a very hard day for me, but it was all worth it. I came to the Tour of Switzerland because it's the best way to prepare for the Tour de France for me and because I wanted to do some climbs. So far it's going very well.

Reto Hollenstein (Vorarlberg-Corratec) took off on a solo escape 50 kilometres into the race. He built up a lead of over eight minutes, but the young Swiss neo-pro never really had a chance.

Hollenstein led by 2:13 over the peloton with 30 kilometres remaining. Team Columbia-Highroad, Rabobank and Cervélo TestTeam were intent on a sprint finish and worked to pull him back, catching him 12 kilometres later.

Teams Milram and Liquigas led the group in the final 10 kilometres to Bad Zurzach. Silence-Lotto, Quick Step, Cervélo TestTeam and Team Columbia-Highroad were at the front for the final three kilometres.

The peloton successfully negotiated a number of corners at high speed in the last kilometre. Hincapie came to the front in the final 400 metres with Hushovd (Cervélo TestTeam) on his wheel, but the Norwegian was unable to beat the smaller Briton, Cavendish.