Paolo Savoldelli (Astana) has won the prologue of the Tour of Romandy for the fourth time. The two-time Giro d?Italia winner traveled over the rolling, technical, 3.5-km course in Fribourg in 4:35. Roman Kreuzinger (Liquigas) finished second at 0:05, and Chris Horner (Predictor) took third at 0:07.

Riders rode conservatively because of road conditions. The drought in
Europe has put dust on the roads, and rain made the dust slippery. Andrey Mizourov (Astana) set the early standard with a 4:45, but many riders who might have bettered this time rode conservatively because of road conditions. Carlos Sastre (CSC) finished 59 ^th at 0:20, and two-time world time trial champion Michael Rogers (T-Mobile) finished 62 ^nd at 0:20, while David Millar (Saunier Duval) finished 19 ^th at 0:15.

When the rain stopped, riders began to assert themselves. Horner vaulted into the lead with a 4:42, and Savoldelli took the lead and the win with his 4:35. Mizourov settled for sixth at 0:10.

In the overall, Savoldelli leads Kreuzinger by 0:05 and Horner by 0:07. Stage 1, a 157.8-km ride from La Chaux-de-Fonds to Lucens, will feature two Category 2 and two Category 1 ascents. How will the leaders fare? Check in at www.roadcycling.com and find out!