Mathias Frank rode safely among his teammates on the BMC Racing Team Thursday at the Tour de Suisse while a four-man breakaway took the spotlight on the day prior to the queen stage Friday.
The breakaway enjoyed a 14-minute advantage at one point in the 187.9km race under sun-splashed skies. Gregory Rast (RadioShack Leopard) easily took the stage win, while Frank and the peloton rolled in 10:43 later. Directeur Sportif John Lelangue said the BMC Racing Team did not exert too much energy riding since the breakaway posed no threat. "It was good to have one more day like this before the big queen stage to La Punt," Lelangue said. "We were riding in the front not to chase the breakaway but to stay in the safe zone. There were a lot of crashes in the beginning and in the end."
Frank, who has held the lead since finishing fourth on stage 3, said he has first-hand knowledge of Friday's 206km stage and its three climbs. "It's going to be a tough stage with the Albulapass pass, which is a pretty hard mountain," Frank said. "But I know what's coming up. I've ridden this climb many times in training. This is for sure an advantage for me. So I'm hoping for legs, which I have had so far. So I am confident."
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