May 5, 2003

Hamilton takes Tour of Romandie in final time trial

LUSANNE, Switzerland - Hardly a week after his historic win at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, American Tyler Hamilton again shocked the cycling world with a dramatic come-from-behind victory at the Tour of Romandie, claiming the five day race's final stage and overall title on Sunday.

With a relatively short but hilly time trial as the race's final stage, Hamilton-who started the day in fourth place-would have to dig deep to make up the 43 second deficit to race leader Francisco Perez Sanchez. The young Spaniard had surged into the overall lead with a convincing win in the previous day's mountain stage and, with a reputation as a solid time trail rider, was the favorite to take the overall.

Perhaps Sanchez Perez's effort on Saturday had drained him, because it was Hamilton-resplendent in his Bell Meteor time trial fairing-that would scorch the 12.68-mile course in a winning time of 26 minutes, and 18 seconds. Perez Sanchez would finish 14th, 1:20 behind Hamilton and drop to third on the overall. France's Laurent Dufaux finished third on the day, but moved up to second on the overall as he finished 47-seconds behind Hamilton. Alex Zulle of Switzerland finished second on the day, 33 seconds back.

Hamilton's win could make him the top-ranked professional cyclist in the world. He currently sits 10th but could rise as high as first when the International Cycling Union's (UCI) world rankings are released May 11th. The Marblehead, Mass. native is the second American to win the race, following in the footsteps of Andy Hampsten who won in 1992.

The Tour of Romandie is Hamilton's last scheduled spring race, and he is expected to return to his European home in Girona, Spain where he will begin final preparations for the Tour de France in July.