2009 Tour de Suisse Trivia Quiz

Answer: Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein is a very small German speaking country, located in Europe. This was its first time hosting a stage in the Tour de Suisse. Stage 1 was 7.8km in length. Fabian Cancellara won the stage. Fabian rode for Team Saxo Bank.

Answer: 25km

The breakaway was made up of Javier Armendia, Josef Benetseder, and Hervé Duclos-Lassalle. The breakaway formed about 40km into the stage. Their lead never got passed two minutes and thirty seconds. After catching the breakaway the peloton geared up for a sprint finish. Bernhard Eisel barely beat out Gerald Ciolek and Oscar Freire to win the stage. Bernhard rode for Team Columbia-High Road.

Answer: Ryder Hesjedal

Will Frischkorn, Enrico Gasparotto, Samuel Dumoulin, and Marlon Pérez made up the breakaway that stayed out in front for most of the stage. Just as they were being caught, Ryder Hesjedal jumped off the front of the peloton. He would be caught with a kilometer to go. The peloton then set up for a sprint finish that Mark Cavendish won. Mark rode for Team Columbia-High Road.

Answer: Rabobank

As the stage went on, nine riders were left from the original 26-man breakaway. The other 17 riders were absorbed by the peloton. The nine riders made their way to the finish, avoiding the peloton by over a minute. Matti Breschel beat out the other breakaway members for the stage win. Matti rode for Team Saxo Bank.

Answer: Austria

Stage 5 ended in Serfaus, Austria. Throughout the stage there were many unsuccessful breakaway attempts. Then near the finish, 15 riders got away and made their way to the finish. Michael Albasini out-sprinted Fabian Cancellara for the stage win. Michael rode for Team Columbia-High Road.

Answer: Mark Cavendish

There were a couple of breakaways throughout the stage, but none survived. As the peloton set up for a stage finish, Thor Hushovd got in front of Mark Cavendish's lead-out man trying to stop him from winning the stage. His attempt would fail as Mark would cruise to the stage win. Mark Cavendish won Stages 3 and 6. Mark rode for Team Columbia-High Road.

Answer: True

Stage 7 was 204km in length. With a kilometer to go, the peloton caught a breakaway that was out for only a few kilometers. Just as they caught the break Kim Kirchen jumped off the front of the peloton. Kim would make it across the line just seven seconds before the peloton to win the stage. Kim rode for Team Columbia-High Road. Stage 1 was the shortest stage of the 2009 Tour de Suisse, at 7.8km. Stage 1 was an Individual Time Trial.

Answer: Sixth

Team Columbia-High Road had a fantastic 2009 Tour de Suisse, by winning six stages and the King of the Mountains Classification. Team Columbia-High Road won Stages 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8. Mark Cavendish won the most stages for Team Columbia-High Road with two stage victories. Team Saxo Bank won the other three stages.

Answer: 1 minute 27 seconds

Stage 9 was 39km in length. The Individual Time Trial took place in Bern, Switzerland. Tony Martin was the second place finisher on the stage. Just as the finish line neared Fabian passed Roman Kreuziger, who had started two minutes before he did. Fabian rode for Team Saxo Bank.

Answer: Fabian Cancellara

Fabian was the first Switzerland native to win the Tour de Suisse since Alex Zülle in 2002. In addition to winning the General Classification, Fabian also won the Points Classification. Fabian rode for Team Saxo Bank.