Jeker wins in style

Fabian Jeker: Plenty of success in Portugal

Click here for stage 14th results and overall standings

Fabian Jeker stormed to victory in the 2000km Tour of Portugal after claiming the 14th and final stage.

The Swiss rider covered the 26.4km time trial in 32 minutes and 47 seconds around Maia, near the city of Oporto.

To outline his dominance in the stage, Jeker almost caught his nearest rival Juan Miguel Mercado of Spain, who had started two minutes ahead of him.

Mercado was in second place overall on Tuesday, but Russia's Andrei Zintchenko snatched the runners-up spot after finishing third in Wednesday's stage.

After his impressive win, Jeker said: "I was shouted at after 200 metres, because I was so nervous and felt sick to my stomach.

"I had to pull myself through that nervousness. I just thought about me, about pedalling.

I was third last year, I improved a little this year. Let's see if I can try to win next year

  Andrei Zintchenko

"When I heard I had taken 25 seconds from Zintchenko, that cheered me up a lot and drove me along. Then when I saw Mercado, I could only think about catching him.

"I couldn't catch him, but I won the stage and, what is far more important, the overall standings," added the 32-year-old rider.

Zintchenko admitted he had not been optimistic of making up the 40 second deficit with Jeker in the final time trial.

"I think I clocked a very good time, just that I couldn't beat Fabian, who right now is in better form than me. He won because he was the strongest.

"I was third last year, I improved a little this year. Let's see if I can try to win next year," Zintchenko added.

Sprint prize

Jeker was favourite to win the race after he first grabbed the leader's yellow jersey by winning the Tour's other time trial last Thursday.

The remaining stages were won mainly in lone efforts by riders low down in the overall standings and posed no threat to Jeker.

Italy's Salvatore Commesso won the sprinters' prize for most consistent finisher on the tour, while Portuguese rider Pedro Martins took the climbers' jersey.

Portuguese squad Porta da Ravessa won the overall team prize.

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Leading placings in the 14th stage of the Tour of Portugal over 26.4km in Maia on Wednesday:

1. Fabian Jeker (Switzerland) Maia-Milaneza-MSS 32 minutes 49 seconds
2. Jan Hruska (Czech Republic) Once-Eroski 10 seconds behind
3. Andrei Zintchenko (Russia) LA-Pecol 0:40
4. Victor Gamito (Portugal) Porta da Ravessa 0:46
5. Rene Andrle (Czech Republic) Once-Eroski 0:50
6. Jose Azevedo (Portugal) Once-Eroski 0:59
7. Joaquim Andrade (Portugal) Cantanhede-M. Marialva 1:01
8. Claus Michael Moller (Denmark) Maia-Milaneza-MSS 1:08
9. Dariusz Baranowski (Poland) iBanesto 1:15
10. Pedro Lopes (Portugal) LA-Pecol 1:16

Final overall leading standings:

1. Fabian Jeker (Switzerland) Maia-Milaneza-MSS 50 hours 51 minutes 58 seconds
2. Andrei Zintchenko (Russia) LA-Pecol one minute 40 seconds behind
3. Juan Miguel Mercado (Spain) Banesto 2:43
4. Victor Gamito (Portugal) Porta da Ravessa 3:16
5. Joaquim Gomes (Portugal) Carvalhelhos-Boavista 4:15
6. Rui Sousa (Portugal) Porta da Ravessa 5:32
7. Nuno Alves (Portugal) Porta da Ravessa 6:06
8. Claus Michael Moller (Denmark) Maia-Milaneza-MSS 6:17
9. Orlando Rodrigues (Portugal) LA-Pecol 7:37
10. Youri Sourkov (Moldova) LA-Pecol 8:40