Intro:

World road race champion Rui Costa became the first rider to win the Tour de Suisse three times in succession on Sunday (22 June) after the Portuguese rider won the ninth and final stage of the 2014 race in Saas-Fee.

Script:

The 2014 Tour of Switzerland concluded on Sunday with a gruelling 157-kilometre (97.6 miles) mountain stage from Martigny to Saas-Fee.

Twice defending champion Rui Costa was looking to claw his way back having started the day 65 seconds behind the leader Tony Martin of Germany.

Martin began the day with a 51-second advantage over Tom Dumoulin (Netherlands, Team Giant-Shimano), but the Portuguese Rui Costa was in determined mood.

Costa here leading the climb up the Eischoli.

There was little resistance to the defending Champion's charge for the line.

Crossing the line in 4hours 13 minutes and 14 seconds.

And the leader from the beginning of the day, Tony Martin, came home some 2 minutes behind Costa.

The Lampre-Merida rider winning the tour for a third time in a row.