Columbia-Highroad’s Michael Albasini has declared he will go all out for victory in the biggest home race of his country, the Tour of Switzerland.  “For me this is the key race of the season,” Albasini said.  “It’s the one that matters to me the most.  I know for many riders that it’s a build-up race for the Tour, but I won’t be thinking about July until after I’ve crossed the last finishing line.  I’ve already won a stage of the Tour of the Basque Country this season, and my condition is a lot better now.”

In the past, Albasini has taken a stage win in the Tour of Switzerland in 2005, as well as winning the King of the Mountains classification once and the points classification twice.   “There are three mountain top finishes, and not too much time-trialing, all of which suits a climber like me.  The stage which goes closest to my home, the sixth, isn’t particularly hilly, but I’ll definitely be trying to be in the action that day in any case.”

Columbia-Highroad’s line-up for the Tour of Switzerland this year includes sprint star Mark Cavendish, taking part in his last stage race before the Tour de France.  “For Mark, the Tour of Switzerland is the last lap before July,” comments team sports director Brian Holm.  “The objective is not so much to go for stage wins.  He’s got nothing to prove in the sprints and we don’t think there’ll be that many in the Tour of Switzerland, anyway.  It's more just to make sure his climbing keeps on improving.  As for Kim [Kirchen],” added Holm, “he’s normally good in Switzerland.  He won a stage last year, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he finished in the top five overall.”

Columbia-Highroad for The Tour of Switzerland: Michael Albasini (Swi); Marcus Burghardt (Ger); Mark Cavendish (GB); Bernhard Eisel (Aut); George Hincapie (USA); Kim Kirchen (Lux); Tony Martin (Ger); Maxime Monfort (Bel).