SION, Switzerland -- German Andreas Kloeden won the third stage of the Tour de Romandie and took the overall lead in Sion.

Kloeden is a former Tour de France runner-up.
The Astana rider, a former runner-up at the Tour de France, covered the 18.8km time trial in 25 minutes 32 seconds and claimed the yellow jersey from Swiss Michael Albasini, of Liquigas, who finished in 26.53.
The course was mainly flat, with just one climb, and Kloeden had a fright on the rapid descent to the technical final part of the course when he clipped a barrier but managed to avoid falling.
Dutchman Thomas Dekker of Rabobank, a former winner of the Tour of Romandie, was second, four seconds behind Kloeden, and is now second overall.
It was Astana's second stage victory in the race after Maxim Iglinsky's win on the opener.
The Kazakh-based team includes Tour de France champion Alberto Contador, but they have not been invited to compete in the blue riband event this year because of past doping controversies.
Astana were thrown off last year's Tour after star rider Alexandre Vinokourov tested positive for blood doping. Contador did not ride with them at the time. E-mail to a friend ![]()
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