Yes, Andy Schleck will one day be a great champion, but after Tuesday's fourth stage of the Tour de Suisse, one should remember that his older brother Frank is not one to be ignored, either.

On the steep slopes of the finishing climb to Triesenberg-Malbun, its second category rating belying a vicious character, big brother Schleck asserted his authority with an impressive display of power climbing, and left all rivals in his wake to capture his fifth career victory and the race lead to boot.

"Of course, the Tour de Suisse is a beautiful race and it's one of the biggest races of the year - but the Tour is something bigger. I don't know... I'll take it as it comes; of course, I've got the yellow jersey, and if you've got the jersey, you have to show it some respect.

The 27-year-old CSC man from Luxembourg crossed the line 32 seconds ahead of Caisse d'Epargne's Vladimir Efimkin and 42 in front of Saunier Duval-Prodir's Josi Gomez Marchante, comfortably assuming the maillot jaune with five stages remaining. Another Luxembourger, Kim Kirchen of T-Mobile, who struggled on the lower slopes of the final climb, staged an impressive comeback to finish fifth behind Unibet's Matteo Carrara, and now finds himself third overall.

"I tell you what, it was a bloody hard climb," said Schleck, who, despite his win, had labored towards the finish.

The final climb took its toll on many, including race leader Fabian Cancellara.

Photo: Agence France Presse - 2007

"In the end, it was a very hard climb and I only had a 39x25 on, so I couldn't go any harder. I believe the others also had the same gears, and I couldn't get any more cadence."

Questions naturally turned towards the events of today happening in Geneva, where the UCI demanded all 600 ProTour riders sign a charter before the start of the Tour, saying they have not cheated, and have nothing to do with any doping investigation.

"I only just heard the news, because the press conference was only at noon today. Give me two or three days, and I'll be able to give an answer," said Schleck.

Asked about team manager Bjarne Riis’s “not welcome” messages he's received via the press from ASO president Patrice Clerc, Schleck simply said "I'm happy to be a rider, and not be implicated in such problems."

On a lighter note concerning Riis, Schleck said a promise had been made yesterday that if his teammate Fabian Cancellara were to keep the yellow jersey for another day, he'd serve dessert at the dinner table.

"Now that the jersey's on my shoulders, I hope [Riis] serves it again," Schleck joked.

Summer lovin'
The first signs of summer at the Tour de Suisse dawned Tuesday afternoon in Nauders, with temperatures expected to climb into the mid-30s as the day wore on.

Despite a descent to begin with, it proved tricky for some, and the peloton, now 161 riders strong, had split into two. No more than 30 seconds separated the two large blobs of coureurs, but it wasn't till the 45 kilometer mark before a regrouping occurred.

With a half-century covered, Cofidis' Kevin de Weert decided it was time for a little freedom, and left the peloton's grasp without hesitation; by the base of the Category 2 climb up the Alberg Pass, two and half minutes was the Belgian's advantage.

Back in the peloton, the climb provoked a counter from Saunier Duval's Arkaitz Duran Aroca, who went away at km 61 and caught the lone escapee seven kilometers from the summit. The combined firepower worked a treat, and as the couple crested the 1.793 meter pass, they were 9:33 ahead.

A break of seven went off in pursuit, but the pack weren't willing to let danger man Carlos Sastre be part of it, and after 100 kilometers, the septet was sent back from whence they came. By now, CSC and T-Mobile were leading a concerted chase, and 33 kilometers from the finish, two minutes was all that remained between the two groups.

At the base of the 15 kilometer climb to Triesenberg, Astana's Andrey Mizourov attacked straight away, but was soon brought back by a fierce tempo being set by the favorites up front. Maillot jaune Cancellara and yesterday's winner, Alessandro Proni (QuickStep), were some of the first out the pack, but by the day's end, would by no means be the only ones.

10 kilometers from the line, the front group was still around 30 riders strong, as many pairs of nervous eyes scanned the field, waiting for the inevitable. That happened two kilometers later, when Schleck left a dozen riders in his wake, and was followed only by Unibet's Carrara.

However, it proved to be an initial test as Schleck simply checked for signs of weakness. But just as 10 men regrouped at the front of the field, the lanky Luxembourger went again, and this time for good.

"I wanted to make a selection as fast as possible," explained Schleck, "but when I attacked [first], I also learned that my legs were really good, so that's the reason I attacked again. I also got the advice from Bjarne Riis in the team car that I should attack."

With Schleck 20 seconds ahead 5k from the finish, a chase group of six was being driven by Discovery Channel's Stijn Devolder, with Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Fondital), Vladimirs Karpets and Efimkin (Caisse d'Epargne), Carrara and Gomez Marchante in tow.

Surprisingly, Cunego was the first to pop before Efimkin chose to go after Schleck, but for Efimkin, it was too little, too late. Behind the Russian, Kirchen, who had staged a fairly remarkable comeback, was riding together with Carrara, but both had well and truly begun their festival of suffering.

As the road kicked up again with interest in the final kilometer-and-a-half, Schleck also began to fade, the L'Alpe d'Huez champion from last year's Tour de France not looking nearly as good as he did on that day. However, with those behind him faring no better, he knew the stage was won, and his pointed index finger appeared to signal his rise to the top of the classification.

Half-a-minute later, Efimkin came across to take second, with Gomez Marchante a further 10 seconds back. Rounding out the top five were Carrara and Kirchen, 48 seconds behind Schleck.

The road ahead - On Wednesday, the race heads south by southwest to the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland. It's hard to avoid mountains when one visits this country and Stage 5 has three, but unlike the day before it, they shouldn't cause any changes to the top of the leader board.

More likely, the Category 1 ascent of the Lukmanierpass, its crest coming after 114.5 kilometers and some 80 clicks from the finish in Giubiasco, will be the impetus for an attack to go or a breakaway to fade.

"Of course, the Tour de Suisse is a beautiful race and it's one of the biggest races of the year - but the Tour is something bigger," said Schleck when asked if his maillot jaune was for keeps.

"I don't know... I'll take it as it comes; of course, I've got the yellow jersey, and if you've got the jersey, you have to show it some respect. There's still another two weeks till the Tour, so I'll take a rest there."

Results - Stage 4
1. Frank Schleck (Lux), CSC  4:20:37 (38.493kph)
2. Vladimir Efimkin (Rus), Caisse d'Epargne, , 0:32
3. José Angel Gomez Marchante (Sp), Saunier Duval, 0:42
4. Matteo Carrara (I), Unibet, 0:48
5. Kim Kirchen (Lux), T-Mobile,
6. Gilberto Simoni (I), Saunier Duval, 1:05
7. Vladimir Karpets (Rus), Caisse d'Epargne, , 1:11
8. Damiano Cunego (I), Lampre, 1:25
9. Xavier Florencio Cabre (Sp), Bouygues Telecom, 1:37
10. Stijn Devolder (B), Discovery, 1:40
Overall
1. Frank Schleck (Lux), CSC, 14:32:24 (38.294kph),
2. Vladimir Efimkin (Rus), Caisse d'Epargne, 0:49
3. Kim Kirchen (Lux), T-Mobile,
4. José Angel Gomez Marchante (Sp), Saunier Duval 0:58
5. Matteo Carrara (I), Unibet, 1:05
6. Vladimir Karpets (Rus), Caisse d'Epargne, 1:19
7. Xavier Florencio Cabre (Sp), Bouygues Telecom, 1:39
8. Damiano Cunego (I), Lampre, 1:46
9. Stijn Devolder (B), Discovery 2:03
10. Gilberto Simoni (I), Saunier Duval, 2:06