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Lutsenko wins Tour de Suisse stage, Thomas cuts Pinot's lead

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BERN, Switzerland (AP) Alexey Lutsenko of Kazakhstan powered to victory in the Tour de Suisse eighth stage on Saturday, and Thibaut Pinot's overall lead was cut again.

Frenchman Pinot is only 34 seconds clear of Geraint Thomas before Sunday's decisive 38-kilometer (24-mile) time trial.

Thomas, a British rider for the Sky team, seized three seconds from the overall leader as the main pack trailed behind a breakaway group.

It was the third straight day Thomas, who is typically stronger in time-trial stages, has taken time from Pinot, who rides for FDJ.

Lutsenko finished one second ahead of Jan Bakelants of Belgium in almost 3 1/2 hours.

Both were in a long 19-man break, then went clear together with 20 kilometers (12 1/2 miles) left in the 165-kilometer (102-mile) stage around Switzerland's capital, Bern.