Uran bursts clear to claim stage

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GENEVA, Switzerland (Reuters) -- Colombian Rigoberto Uran, of the beleaguered Unibet team, made a late break to win the eighth stage of the Tour of Switzerland over 152km from Innertkirchen to Schwarzsee on Saturday.

Russian Vladimir Efimkin of Caisse d'Epargne held on to the leader's yellow jersey after finishing safely in the pack just behind Uran.

The 20-year-old Uran, who only turned professional last year, finished two seconds ahead of Italy's Cristian Moreni and the peloton, after surprising everyone with a break 500 meters from the line.

A breakaway group of 11 riders including Spaniard Carlos Sastre and Swiss pair Michael Albasini and Florian Stalder had led the way for 70km, building up a lead of 4min 45sec, before being caught by the peloton at the foot of an 8km climb near Lac Noir.

Italy's Andrea Tonti and US rider Chris Horner both made unsuccessful attempts to break away in a fast-moving stage over undulating and hilly terrain which finished 20 minutes ahead of schedule.

It is the first win for Uran, whose team are sponsored by an internet betting company, and have not been allowed to compete in any of the big Tours because of strict laws governing betting in certain European countries.

The race will be decided in Sunday's final stage, a 33.5km time-trial around Berne, with Efimkin holding a 24sec advantage on Kim Kirchen of Luxembourg with five other riders less than a minute off the pace.

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