CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland, June 20, 2009 (AFP) – German rider Tony Martin won the eighth and penultimate stage of the Tour of Switzerland on Saturday, a 181.7 kilometers ride from Le Sentier to here.

Slovenian cyclist Tadej Valjavec retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey ahead of the final stage on Sunday, a 39km time-trial in Berne.

King of the Mountains leader Martin powered away with less than a kilometer to race on Saturday with Italy’s Damiano Cunego, four seconds back.

“I realized Cunego was chasing behind, and he got fairly close, but I made it in the first place to the finish all the same,” said Martin.

“I’d tried the same kind of move on Friday at the mountain-top finish in Juraparc but it didn’t work out. This time round was different. I waited a lot longer and finally accelerated 500 meters from the line. I got a good gap, and then I knew that I was going to be able to win.”

Already victorious in the time trial stages of the Criterium International in France and the Bayern Rundfahrt in Germany this year, the second-year pro said he considered his Swiss victory “to be the first big win of my career.”

“Hopefully I can do a good time trial on Sunday, too,” he added.

Tour of Switzerland results after the eighth stage from Le Sentier to Crans-Montana on Saturday:

1. Tony Martin (GER/THR) 4h12:31
2. Damiano Cunego (ITA/LAM) at 0:00.
3. Fabian Cancellara (SUI/SAX) 0:02.
4. Tadej Valjavec (SLO/ALM) 0:02.
5. Kim Kirchen (LUX/THR) 0:02.
6. Rein Taaramae (EST/COF) 0:02.
7. Andreas Klöden (GER/AST) 0:02.
8. Roman Kreuziger (CZE/LIQ) 0:02.
9. Vladimir Karpets (RUS/KAT) 0:02.
10. Frank Schleck (LUX/SAX) 0:02.
11. Rui Costa (POR/GCE) 0:08.
12. Michael Albasini (SUI/THR) 0:08.
13. Maxime Monfort (BEL/THR) 0:19.
14. Eros Capecchi (ITA/FUJ) 0:37.
15. Damien Monier (FRA/COF) 1:01.

Selected:
20. George Hincapie (USA/THR) 1:01.
43. Andy Schleck (LUX/SAX) 3:56.

Overall
1. Tadej Valjavec (SLO/ALM) 32h19:48.
2. Fabian Cancellara (SUI/SAX) at 0:04.
3. Roman Kreuziger (CZE/LIQ) 0:28.
4. Tony Martin (GER/THR) 0:39.
5. Andreas Klöden (GER/AST) 0:45.
6. Damiano Cunego (ITA/LAM) 0:54.
7. Vladimir Karpets (RUS/KAT) 1:01.
8. Kim Kirchen (LUX/THR) 1:07.
9. Rein Taaramae (EST/COF) 1:08.
10. Maxime Monfort (BEL/THR) 1:12.
11. Oliver Zaugg (SUI/LIQ) 1:13.
12. Michael Albasini (SUI/THR) 1:34.
13. Rui Costa (POR/GCE) 2:55.
14. Chris-Anker Sörensen (DEN/SAX) 2:55.
15. Peter Velits (SVK/MRM) 2:57.

Selected
17. George Hincapie (USA/THR) 3:14.
28. Andy Schleck (LUX/SAX) 5:35.