Fabian Cancellara has won the Swiss National Time Trial Championships, ahead of Thomas Frei and Martin Elmiger. It's Cancellara seventh national title against the clock.

The four times World Champion finished the 50 km course in Messen in 1:00:39. Thomas Frei (Christina Watches) came in second place, 1:54 behind Cancellara. Martin Elmiger (AG2R La Mondiale) was third, two minutes down on Cancellara.

Cancellara: "I'm very proud to have won another Swiss title in the time trial. It's an honor to wear the colors of your country, even if you win the race for the seventh time. The competition was very motivated, because all of us want that title."

DS Luca Guercilena: "Fabian's time trial project is a work in progress. Even though he still feels the last two heavy mountain stages of the Tour de Suisse in his legs, he can be proud of his performance today. This is not yet the Olympic time trial, of course, but it was a good test for him. Every victory is a victory. He puts in two minutes to the second man, so that's very good. It's an indication that he's growing to his best shape and ability for this kind of long efforts, so I'm very satisfied."

Cancellara: "I'm happy with where I stand at this point. I was relaxed and very focused. In a race like this you don't have the big infrastructure around you, there are no official split times and there are not so many competitors, but it's still very good to go home with a good feeling in the pocket. The race was only 20 kilometers from my home, so that made it extra special."

Cancellara will also take the start in the national road race on Sunday. Team mates Gregory Rast and Oliver Zaugg will be there as well.

Photo: Steffen Müssiggang/radsportphoto.ch