Mathias Frank (BMC) kept the lead at the Tour de Suisse Tuesday, finishing 23rd in the field sprint that was won by Arnaud Démare (FDJ).

Frank said things could hardly have gone any better during his first day in the yellow leader's jersey. "It really worked out well for us with a small group going," he said. "The last few kilometres were very nervous, but I have a really good team around me – the best guys you can have for this job. I was confident that I just had to stay on their wheel and they would keep me out of trouble."

Frank, who turned professional in 2008, is leading a stage race for the first time since he led for one day at the 2012 Giro del Trentino. With four riders within a minute of him, Frank said he is confident about maintaining his advantage over second-placed Roman Kreuziger (Team Saxo-Tinkoff) and Rui Costa (Movistar Team) in Wednesday's 178.4km race. "It's mostly on my home roads, so I know it pretty well," he said. "I think it is going to be another nice stage."