Bauke Mollema was expected to be one of the winners among the GC riders in today's Tour de Suisse time trial but the Dutchman did a poor performance. Instead, it was his teammate Stef Clement who moved into the hot seat for the Belkin team but Mollema still plans to take back time in the mountain stages.

Stef Clement stopped the clock in seventh place in the 24.7-kilometre individual time trial at the Tour de Suisse on Friday to lead the way for Belkin Pro Cycling TEAM.

World time trial champion Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) won the race against the clock to bolster his overall lead, with Clement at 1:02 slower on the stage. Clement climbed from 31st to 12th place overall, now 2:02 behind Martin with two hard mountain stages to go.

"I had a good feeling, and we have to see what I can do, keeping the competition in mind," Clement said. "In the descent, I lacked some power. We’ll see tomorrow what my result of today is worth. We have two more nice days to come for the overall."

Belkin's Bauke Mollema admitted he wasn't at his best on the hilly and challenging course, finishing 21st at 1:38 slower, but vows to regain time in his quest for the final podium in this weekend's two challenging climbing stages over the Swiss Alps.

"I did the maximum today. It was a very heavy parcours, and I went all out. My TT was in general OK. It is what it is," Mollema said. "Tomorrow and the next day after suit me better, with the mountaintop finishes, so I hope to gain back some time."

Mollema dipped from fourth overall to 11th, now at 1:55 back. Laurens ten Dam also ceded time, slipping from 23th to 27th, now 2:52 back.

Belkin Sports Director Jan Boven expressed satisfaction with Clement's inspiring ride, and promised the team will attack in Saturday's climbing stage to Verbier.

"It was a beautiful time trial. The first part was very technical and in the second part it all came down to sheer power. Stef rode a fantastic time trial," Boven said. "I had higher hopes for Bauke, who could have won some more time before the first intermediate check. In the end, the time trial of Bauke was good, but not good enough. The performance of Laurens was at his level. The power sections in the time trial didn't suit him. Tomorrow we'll make new plans for the final that is very hard."