Thomas Dekker (Rabobank) won the final time trial and the overall on Sunday at the Tour of Romandie.

The lanky Netherlander, who was Dutch time-trial champion in 2005, covered the 20.4km course around Lausanne in 26 minutes and 36 seconds to leap past overnight leader Chris Horner (Predictor-Lotto) in the overall standings.

Horner’s 27:31 put him in seventh position on the day and dropped him to fifth overall. He could console himself with having correctly predicted the final outcome after taking the leader's jersey in Saturday's stage.

"If I had to pick someone now, I would pick Dekker. He looked incredibly strong to me today and he is an excellent time-trial specialist," Horner told reporters after stage 4.

Dekker apparently had not been as confident about his chances as the man he displaced at the top of the leaderboard.

"I'm happy but surprised, as this wasn't on my program," he told Agence France Presse. "The time trial is my specialty. I thought I'd make the podium but not necessarily as the winner."

The overall victory was Dekker's 13th since turning professional in 2005. At just 23, he is the youngest rider to win here since his countryman Johan Van Der Velde in 1978.

Paolo Savoldelli (Astana), meanwhile, was just five seconds slower than Dekker and moved into the runner-up slot at 11 seconds back. Teammate Andrey Kashechkin, third on the day at 12 seconds back, wound up third overall at 34 seconds. —Agence France Presse contributed to this report

Horner rode well enough to stay in the top five overall

Photo: Graham Watson

Tour de Romandie
Final stage
1. Thomas Dekker (Nl), Rabobank, 26:36
2. Paolo Savoldelli (I), Astana, at 0:05
3. Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz), Astana, at 0:12
4. Cadel Evans (Aus), Predictor-Lotto, at 0:23
5. Eddy Mazzoleni (I), Astana, at 0:46
6. Roman Kreuziger (Cz), Liquigas, at 0:52
7. Christopher Horner (USA), Predictor-Lotto, at 0:55
8. David Zabriskie (USA), CSC, at 0:57
9. Sandy Casar (F), Française des Jeux, at 1:01
10. Janez Brajkovic (Slo), Discovery Channel, at 1:05

Final overall
1. Thomas Dekker (Nl), Rabobank, 17:27:02
2. Paolo Savoldelli (I), Astana, at 0:11
3. Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz), Astana, at 0:34
4. Cadel Evans (Aus), Predictor-Lotto, at 0:43
5. Christopher Horner (USA), Predictor-Lotto, at 0:46
6. Roman Kreuziger (Cz), Liquigas, at 1:35
7. Igor Anton Hernandez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 1:51
8. Andy Schleck (Lux), CSC, at 1:53
9. Sylvester Szmyd (Pol), Lampre-Fondital, at 1:55
10. Janez Brajkovic (Slo), Discovery Channel, at 2:00

Complete results