Rui Costa has won Tour de Suisse 2014 for Team Lampre Merida.

Is cycling going to get the leadership it deserves?

Yesterday, 2008 world road race champion Alessandro Ballan said, “…we could end up with a surprise winner.” Ballan should consider becoming a clairvoyant when his racing days are done. Today, Rui Costa (Portugal) surprised everyone, including himself, by winning the world road race championship.

Portugal's Rui Costa is the new World Champion.

Rui Costa (Movistar) has won his second stage of this year’s Tour de France and the third of his career. The Portuguese rider surged away from Pierre Rolland (Europcar) and soloed home to win Stage 19, a mountainous, 204.5-km ride from Bourg d’Oisans to Le Grand-Bornand, in 5:59:01. Andreas Kloeden (RadioShack-Leopard) finished second at 0:48, and his teammate Jan Bakelants finished third at 1:44. Chris Froome (Sky) remains the maillot jaune.

Team Movistar's Rui Costa soloes to second stage victory in Tour de France 2013; Team Sky Pro Cycling's Chris Froome hangs on to overall Tour de France lead.

Portugal's Rui Costa (Team Movistar) breaks away and soloes to victory in stage 16 of Tour de France 2013; Team Sky's Chris Froome maintains overall 2013 Tour de France lead.

Team Movistar's Rui Costa (Portugal) climbs to win in stage 9 individual time trial and takes overall victory in Tour de Suisse 2013

Portugal's Rui da Costa wins stage 7 of Tour de Suisse 2013; Mathias Frank maintains overall Tour of Switzerland lead.