Horner thrives in rain

With four first category climbs on the menu, the 155.9-km penultimate stage of the Swiss event was expected to clarify the rankings but this was not the case.

Horner, 35, has a seven-second lead over Spain's Anton and is nine seconds ahead of Dutchman Thomas Dekker, second on the stage, going into a final 20.4-km time trial on the streets of Lausanne on Sunday.

Italian Paolo Savoldelli, who had held the overall lead since the prologue in Fribourg, finished 16 seconds adrift and now lies fourth, 15 seconds off the pace.

But the former double Giro winner is on paper the best time trial specialist of the four and could repeat his 2000 victory in Romandie.

The San Diego-based Horner, who has had a mixed career since his professional debut in 1995, has always relished Switzerland, winning a Romandie stage last year and a Tour de Suisse stage in 2005.

However, he played down his chances of final victory. "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.

"If I led by 30 seconds, I would be much more confident. But it's not the case and I will be happy to finish in the top five," he added.

Horner surged from the main pack three km from the stage finish to chase Anton, who had broken on his own, and was quickly joined by Dekker and Frenchman John Gadret.

In the finale, Dekker appeared to be the strongest but Anton, who won a Tour of Spain stage last year, had enough energy left to snatch the win.

"The Tour of Romandie is a great race and this was a great mountain stage so it's a great win for a climber like me," Anton said.

"I'm not a time trial specialist but there is a climb at the finish tomorrow so who knows."

With rain and cold weather from start to finish, attacks were scarce.

Frenchman David Moncoutie was the unlucky man of the day. He was the leading force in the 10-man break which led the race until the last climb to Morgins.

But Moncoutie crashed on a descent and had to be taken to hospital in Aigle with an injured knee.