South African ace, Robert Hunter, finished the Tour de Suisse on Sunday in the Sprinter’s jersey after a brave effort saw him cross the line 17th, and the first of his Rabobank team, in the final time trial stage.

It has been a truly triumphant Tour de Suisse for the boy from the West Rand. He won two stages and the Sprinters jersey, finished third behind overall winner, Jan Ullrich, and Swiss runner up, Fabian Jeker, in the Points competition, and an incredible (for a sprinter!) sixth in the King of the Mountains.

“You know, Ullrich only won the Tour by a second overall from Jeker, and I knew, after talking to Robert, that he wouldn’t be able to hang on to the Points jersey if Ullrich won the Time Trial, so it’s a great result given all that,” commented Hunter’s manager, Tony Harding, in Johannesburg on Sunday evening.

It’s been the perfect build up for the forthcoming Tour de France, and, with the news that Robert’s team mate and Spain’s former double world champion, Oscar Freire, will not be riding at Le Tour, Rabobank’s expectations of their SA ace are growing by the day.