# 2006 Tour de Suisse

The 2006 Tour de Suisse was the 70th edition of the Tour de Suisse road cycling stage race, which took place from 10 to 18 June 2006. The race consisted of nine stages, covering a total of 1,468 km (912 mi), starting in Baden and finishing in Bern.
2004 champion Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile Team) overcame a 50-second deficit on the final stage to win the overall title and the yellow jersey, in what became the last race of his career. Koldo Gil and Jörg Jaksche finished second and third, respectively, to complete the podium. In February 2012 Ulrich was found guilty of a doping offence by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. In consequence all his results gained since May 2005 were removed from his Palmares, including this one. The official website of the race however still states Ullrich as the winner of 2006.
Daniele Bennati (Lampre–Fondital) won the points classification as the most consistent finisher. Astana-Würth Cycling Team captured the team classification while Michael Albasini (Liquigas) captured the King of the Mountains and the intermediate sprints jerseys.

## Teams

Twenty-one teams of eight riders started the race:
* Euskaltel–Euskadi
* Team CSC
* Phonak
* T-Mobile Team
* Caisse d'Epargne–Illes Balears
* Lampre–Fondital
* Rabobank
* Würth
* Discovery Channel
* Davitamon–Lotto
* Quick-Step–Innergetic
* Gerolsteiner
* Saunier Duval–Prodir
* Cofidis
* Team Milram
* Crédit Agricole
* Liquigas
* Française des Jeux
* Bouygues Télécom
* AG2R Prévoyance
* Team LPR

## Route

Stage characteristics and winners :
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type | Winner |
| 1 | 10 June | Baden to Baden | 154 km (95.7 mi) | Flat stage | Tom Boonen (BEL) |
| 2 | 11 June | Bremgarten to Einsiedeln | 155.6 km (96.7 mi) | Flat stage | Daniele Contrini (ITA) |
| 3 | 12 June | Einsiedeln to Arlesheim | 160 km (99.4 mi) | Hilly stage | Nick Nuyens (BEL) |
| 4 | 13 June | Niederbipp to La Chaux-de-Fonds | 161.3 km (100.2 mi) | Hilly stage | Ángel Vicioso (ESP) |
| 5 | 14 June | La Chaux-de-Fonds to Leukerbad | 229.5 km (142.6 mi) | Medium mountain stage | Steve Morabito (SUI) |
| 6 | 15 June | Fiesch to La Punt | 212.2 km (131.9 mi) | Mountain stage | Koldo Gil (ESP) |
| 7 | 16 June | St. Moritz to Ascona | 233.7 km (145.2 mi) | Mountain stage | Óscar Freire (ESP) |
| 8 | 17 June | Ambrì to Ambrì | 166.3 km (103.3 mi) | Mountain stage | Alberto Contador (ESP) |
| 9 | 18 June | Kerzers to Bern | 30.7 km (19.1 mi) | Individual time trial | Jan Ullrich (GER) |

## Stages
### Stage 1

10 June – Baden to Baden, 154 km (96 mi)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Tom Boonen (BEL) | Quick-Step–Innergetic | 3h 51' 14" |
| 2 | Daniele Bennati (ITA) | Lampre–Fondital | s.t. |
| 3 | Óscar Freire (ESP) | Rabobank | s.t. |
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Tom Boonen (BEL) | Quick-Step–Innergetic | 3h 51' 04" |
| 2 | Daniele Bennati (ITA) | Lampre–Fondital | + 4" |
| 3 | Michael Albasini (SUI) | Liquigas | + 5" |

### Stage 2

11 June – Bremgarten to Einsiedeln, 165 km (103 mi)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Daniele Contrini (ITA) | Team LPR | 3h 57' 08" |
| 2 | Daniele Bennati (ITA) | Lampre–Fondital | + 5' 02" |
| 3 | Erik Zabel (GER) | Team Milram | + 5' 02" |
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Daniele Bennati (ITA) | Lampre–Fondital | 7h 53' 12" |
| 2 | Tom Boonen (BEL) | Quick-Step–Innergetic | + 8" |
| 3 | Michael Albasini (SUI) | Liquigas | + 11" |

### Stage 3

12 June – Einsiedeln to Arlesheim, 160 km (99 mi)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Nick Nuyens (BEL) | Quick-Step–Innergetic | 4h 36' 52" |
| 2 | Linus Gerdemann (GER) | T-Mobile Team | s.t. |
| 3 | Jörg Jaksche (GER) | Astana–Würth | s.t. |
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Nick Nuyens (BEL) | Quick-Step–Innergetic | 12h 30' 09" |
| 2 | Linus Gerdemann (GER) | T-Mobile Team | + 5" |
| 3 | Daniele Bennati (ITA) | Lampre–Fondital | + 6" |

### Stage 4

13 June – Niederbipp to La Chaux-de-Fonds, 151 km (94 mi)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Ángel Vicioso Arcos (ESP) | Astana–Würth | 3h 45' 09" |
| 2 | David Herrero Llorente (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | s.t. |
| 3 | Daniele Bennati (ITA) | Lampre–Fondital | + 1" |
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Nick Nuyens (BEL) | Quick-Step–Innergetic | 16h 15' 19" |
| 2 | Daniele Bennati (ITA) | Quick-Step–Innergetic | + 2" |
| 3 | Linus Gerdemann (GER) | T-Mobile Team | + 2" |

### Stage 5

14 June – La Chaux-de-Fonds to Leukerbad, 210 km (130 mi)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Steve Morabito (SUI) | Phonak | 5h 37' 47" |
| 2 | Jurgen Van Goolen (BEL) | Discovery Channel | + 14" |
| 3 | Ángel Vicioso Arcos (ESP) | Astana–Würth | + 16" |
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Ángel Vicioso Arcos (ESP) | Astana–Würth | 21h 53' 31" |
| 2 | Jörg Jaksche (GER) | Astana–Würth | + 2" |
| 3 | Linus Gerdemann (GER) | T-Mobile Team | + 3" |

### Stage 6

15 June – Fiesch to La Punt, 210 km (130 mi)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Koldo Gil Perez (ESP) | Saunier Duval–Prodir | 5h 49' 52" |
| 2 | Jörg Jaksche (GER) | Astana–Würth | + 36" |
| 3 | Jan Ullrich (GER) | T-Mobile Team | + 40" |
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Koldo Gil Perez (ESP) | Saunier Duval–Prodir | 27h 43' 21" |
| 2 | Jörg Jaksche (GER) | Astana–Würth | + 34" |
| 3 | Jan Ullrich (GER) | T-Mobile Team | + 54" |

### Stage 7

16 June – St. Moritz to Ascona, 233 km (145 mi)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Óscar Freire (ESP) | Rabobank | 5h 38' 49" |
| 2 | Daniele Bennati (ITA) | Lampre–Fondital | + 3" |
| 3 | Erik Zabel (GER) | Team Milram | + 3" |
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Koldo Gil Perez (ESP) | Saunier Duval–Prodir | 33h 22' 21" |
| 2 | Jörg Jaksche (GER) | Astana–Würth | + 30" |
| 3 | Jan Ullrich (GER) | T-Mobile Team | + 50" |

### Stage 8

17 June – Ambrì to Ambri, 155 km (96 mi)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Alberto Contador (ESP) | Astana–Würth | 4h 19' 03" |
| 2 | David Herrero Llorente (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | + 34" |
| 3 | Cadel Evans (AUS) | Davitamon–Lotto | + 34" |
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Koldo Gil Perez (ESP) | Saunier Duval–Prodir | 37h 42' 01" |
| 2 | Jörg Jaksche (GER) | Astana–Würth | + 30" |
| 3 | Jan Ullrich (GER) | T-Mobile Team | + 50" |

### Stage 9

18 June – Kerzers to Bern, 30 km (19 mi)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Jan Ullrich (GER) | T-Mobile Team | 38' 45" |
| 2 | Cadel Evans (AUS) | Davitamon–Lotto | + 23" |
| 3 | Ángel Vicioso (ESP) | Astana–Würth | + 31" |
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Jan Ullrich (GER) | T-Mobile Team | 38h 21' 36" |
| 2 | Koldo Gil Perez (ESP) | Saunier Duval–Prodir | + 24" |
| 3 | Jörg Jaksche (GER) | Astana–Würth | + 1' 03" |

## Final standings
### General classification

| | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Jan Ullrich (GER) | T-Mobile Team | 38h 21' 36" |
| 2 | Koldo Gil Perez (ESP) | Saunier Duval–Prodir | + 24" |
| 3 | Jörg Jaksche (GER) | Astana–Würth | + 1' 03" |
| 4 | Ángel Vicioso (ESP) | Astana–Würth | + 1' 44" |
| 5 | Janez Brajkovič (SLO) | Discovery Channel | + 2' 33" |
| 6 | Fränk Schleck (LUX) | Team CSC | + 2' 56" |
| 7 | Linus Gerdemann (GER) | T-Mobile Team | + 3' 31" |
| 8 | Giampaolo Caruso (ITA) | Astana–Würth | + 4' 20" |
| 9 | Vladimir Karpets (RUS) | Caisse d'Epargne–Illes Balears | + 4' 27" |
| 10 | Cadel Evans (AUS) | Davitamon–Lotto | + 5' 01" |

### Points classification

The Points Classification of the Tour de Suisse is for points awarded for most consistently high finisher of the stages (equivalent to the Tour de France's green jersey). The Sprints Classification is for intermediate sprints.
| | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Daniele Bennati (ITA) | Lampre–Fondital | 71 |
| 2 | Ángel Vicioso Arcos (ESP) | Astana–Würth | 51 |
| 3 | Koldo Gil Perez (ESP) | Saunier Duval–Prodir | 49 |

### Mountains classification

| | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Michael Albasini (SUI) | Liquigas | 61 |
| 2 | Sven Montgomery (SUI) | Gerolsteiner | 40 |
| 3 | Francesco Bellotti (ITA) | Crédit Agricole | 29 |

### Sprint classification

The Sprints Classification of the Tour de Suisse is for intermediate sprints. The Points Classification is for points awarded for most consistently high finisher of the stages (equivalent to the Tour de France's green jersey).
| | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Michael Albasini (SUI) | Liquigas | 21 |
| 2 | Alberto Contador (ESP) | Astana–Würth | 12 |
| 3 | Alexandre Usov (BLR) | AG2R Prévoyance | 12 |

## Jersey progress

Classification leadership by stage :
| Stage | Winner | General classification | Points classification | Mountains classification | Sprint classification | Team classification |
| 1 | Tom Boonen | Tom Boonen | Tom Boonen | José Antonio Redondo | Michael Albasini | Caisse d'Epargne–Illes Balears |
| 2 | Daniele Contrini | Daniele Bennati | Daniele Bennati | José Antonio Redondo | Daniele Contrini | Team LPR |
| 3 | Nick Nuyens | Nick Nuyens | Daniele Bennati | Michael Albasini | Michael Albasini | Team LPR |
| 4 | Ángel Vicioso | Nick Nuyens | Daniele Bennati | Michael Albasini | Michael Albasini | Saunier Duval–Prodir |
| 5 | Steve Morabito | Ángel Vicioso | Daniele Bennati | Michael Albasini | Michael Albasini | Saunier Duval–Prodir |
| 6 | Koldo Gil | Koldo Gil | Daniele Bennati | Michael Albasini | Michael Albasini | Würth |
| 7 | Óscar Freire | Koldo Gil | Daniele Bennati | Michael Albasini | Michael Albasini | Würth |
| 8 | Alberto Contador | Koldo Gil | Daniele Bennati | Michael Albasini | Michael Albasini | Würth |
| 9 | Jan Ullrich | Jan Ullrich | Daniele Bennati | Michael Albasini | Michael Albasini | Würth |
| Final | Final | Jan Ullrich | Daniele Bennati | Michael Albasini | Michael Albasini | Würth |