Reactions from stage 3 of the Tour de Suisse

 

Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) put on an amazing show to make it two in a row at the Tour de Suisse when he won today’s third stage in impressive fashion. With a powerful attack on the final climb, he caught Michael Albasini (Orica-GreenEDGE) and Silvan Dillier (BMC) and finally beat the Swiss pair in a 3-rider sprint. Maximilano Richeze (Etixx-QuickStep) won the sprint for fourth three seconds later and the gains and time bonuses were enough for Sagan to take the race lead.

 

We have gathered several reactions.

 

Peter Sagan: It was like playing play station

It was yet another wet day at the Tour de Suisse – not that Tinkoff noticed however. Starting the day on a high after Peter Sagan’s twelfth stage win put the UCI World Champion into the race’s record books, the team pushed a hard pace to pull in the day’s breakaway, before watching as the Tinkoff leader launched a late attack to bridge to the remaining breakaway riders, taking the sprint in another masterful finish in Rheinfelden. Sagan took the stage win and the race leader’s jersey to the delight of team owner, Oleg Tinkov, who followed the race in the Sport Director's car.

 

From the finish, Sagan was disappointed by the peloton’s reluctance to join Tinkoff in the chase.

 

“It was tough when we were working so hard. Cycling has changed – it doesn’t respect the group as much. We were out on front, working with Lotto, but all the riders weren’t working. I was asking where the respect was. We were going to kill ourselves riding so hard with 50km to go. I thought it would be easier for everyone if we worked, but I’m angry that my team was working hard on the front, but no-one seemed to respect that.”

 

Sport Director, Patxi Vila, was expecting the break to be caught at first, before the attack came from the bunch.

 

“There was a good-sized break, so we worked together with Lotto to get the situation under control. We were actually really close to getting back with them, but that was when Albasini went out and then we had the duo on the front to chase again.”

 

Vila could see that the break had the potential to stay out until the end, so urged Sagan to go for it on the final climb.

 

“I spoke to Peter and said he’d have to go or Albasini would take the win. It was his kind of stage and it was unlikely if he was in front any longer that the bunch would be able to pull him back in. It was a fantastic move to bridge to the two guys – and then he attacked again, came back and held them off before until the end and took it in the sprint.”

 

Looking back on the day’s efforts, while he made it look easy, Sagan was clear that it was a hard-fought race.

 

“The race was very hard. I caught the escape on the descent, on the flat, and it was pretty hard to keep up. When its raining it’s much easier to be alone out the front – to make the break stick – and the decisions I made were based on me feeling good. On the front the guys did some work with me and it was ok in the lead up to the finish. It was a good sprint – at 300m out I stayed on his wheel and then passed him on the line. The riders in the breakaway wanted to work with me today – it’s not always easy to get them to work with me but we all wanted the win. It was just lucky I still had the legs to go for the sprint in the last hundred metres.

 

"I'm happy for the team, I thank all the teammates who have worked all day. It was pretty stressful. I looked at the others on the final climb with 11km to go and I thought we could try. It was like playing play station.”

 

It was lucky that after working so hard, Sagan still had the legs to contest the sprint, Vila explained.

 

“In the final sprint I think Albasini tried to surprise Peter but didn’t manage it – he took maybe 2-3 metres, and if Peter didn’t have the legs he’d have made it, but he came back and took it.”

 

With Saga taking his 13th stage win at the Tour de Suisse, Vila was thrilled with how the team had pulled together to help Sagan take the win.

 

“It was a great day today. We knew that today was perhaps the best chance we’d have for another stage win, so we came out, were focused on the race and planned on doing a good job. Yesterday we didn’t work as hard, but today we did and the whole team deserved the win. It’s been a fantastic couple of days - we came with a plan to take one stage – but to have taken two is even better. Now we have the responsibility of defending the jersey. Peter won’t be a favourite to keep it until Sunday with the big mountains still to come, but it will be good to have the jersey.”

 

Sagan was surprised to have taken the race lead today, after focusing on the stage win during the day.

 

“It wasn’t in my mind that I could take the yellow. It was wet and hard, and from the last climb it was all descent and I thought if I went in the break it could be ok for the sprint – maybe I could recover and then go for the sprint, but I wasn’t expecting to take the yellow jersey. I think I prefer the Rainbow Jersey, but its good to be in the yellow jersey and leading the race. I’ll do my best to hold it tomorrow, maybe for two days, but I won’t be holding it until the end.”

Tomorrow the race comes to its flattest stage – the calm before the storm of the mountain stages. While a flat profile awaits, it’s not without its challenges, particularly when considering the team has to defend Sagan’s leader’s jersey. The 193km stage will take riders from today’s finish in Rheinfelden to the Champagne region. A short climb early in the day is the toughest riders will have to face before a flat 130km approach to the last hill of the day – a third category climb riders will negotiate less than 10km before the finish.

 

Vila was going to celebrate with the team before committing to a strategy for tomorrow.

 

“It’s an easier stage tomorrow. It comes after some tough stages – they might not have looked it on the profile, but the guys said they were hard days. Tomorrow it’s the flattest stage, which makes things easier, but we still have to work and protect the jersey. We’ll enjoy it tonight but we’re ready to fight tomorrow.”

 

Michael Albasini nearly finishes off aggressive Orica-GreenEDGE ride in Switzerland

Former Tour de Suisse stage winner Michael Albasini had a fantastic ride today to finish second on a wet, action packed stage three of the WorldTour Race. 

 

ORICA-GreenEDGE executed top tactics and teamwork again today with Paris-Roubaix winner Mat Hayman in the early breakaway.

 

Albasini found himself away with one other rider in the closing kilometres, however keen to spoilt the party for the local Swiss rider was World Champion Peter Sagan who jumped across to the duo and went on to claim the stage victory. 

 

Sport director Neil Stephens was overjoyed with the team attitude, animating the race and setting up Albasini in the final.

 

"Today we had a few different options for the stage," said Stephens. "We really wanted to make the race hard towards the final.

 

"We had a plan to attack with Albasini in the final and if that didn't come off, then we could try the bunch kick with either Magnus Cort or Michael Matthews.

 

"As it turned out we had Mat Hayman in the early break, we weren't too sure if that was going to stay away so we also tried with Amets Txurruka.

 

"So all in all a great collective plan. We had a few options there in the final with Albasini out front and then Matthews ready behind, unfortunately we were there with the best rider in the World, Sagan, there's no shame in running second to him.

 

"The team got this result today through some great communication and great collaborative riding between the boys."

 

Impressive Silvan Dillier shines on home soil in Switzerland

Silvan Dillier put in a brilliant ride on Stage 3 of the Tour de Suisse to cross the line in third place, moving up to third on the General Classification and becoming the best-placed Swiss rider.

 

Dillier attacked solo after 10 kilometers and was joined by seven more riders to form the breakaway of the day, eventually gaining an advantage of five minutes.

 

The pace picked up in the final hilly section and the Dillier was the only remaining breakaway rider, later joined by Michael Albasini (Orica GreenEDGE) and Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) in the final 15 kilometers.

 

The trio powered to the finish line managing to hold off a reduced peloton by three seconds. Sagan took the win, with Albasini second and Dillier rounding out the podium.

 

Dillier was awarded most combative rider for his efforts on Stage 3, and now sits in third place on the General Classification, three seconds behind new race leader Sagan.

 

“My future father in law recommended that I go for this stage as it had a final circuit with two climbs and he knew the climbs well,” Dillier said. “So I did a recon a week ago and it was good to have seen it before today as there were some technical descents and it’s also good to know what the climbs are like. The climbs were quite steep but not that long, so you need to have the power to get over them but you don’t have to have the climbing rhythm for 20 minutes or so.

 

“I attacked after ten kilometers and was alone for four to five kilometers. I knew there were guys chasing but I wasn’t sure if the peloton would slow down and let me go. Once the peloton did ease up I waited for the seven riders to join me.

 

“When we passed the finish line for the last lap we still had quite a good advantage of two minutes. Then it started to come down really quickly to under one minute. I said to the other guys that we should try and stay together and make it to the top of the last KOM and then at least finish in the front group.

 

“When Albasini jumped over and then Sagan, I knew we had a good group. It was full gas in the last kilometers. Sagan never stopped pushing the pedals so I thought I just have to follow the wheel. I knew that I was close to taking the leader’s jersey but as soon as Sagan joined us I knew he was already in front of me and to beat him after such a long breakaway would be tough. I still tried to do my best sprint.

 

“I have had a really good feeling since GP Gippingen. I will see how it continues throughout the Tour de Suisse but I generally am really happy with the shape so it’s nice to be up there.”

 

Consistent Maximilano Richeze confirms his form in Switerland

This wild and wet stage saw the chasers arrive three seconds behind the leaders, in part thanks to the big effort of the Czech duo of Zdenek Stybar and Petr Vakoč, and on the uphill drag to the line Maximiliano Richeze was the fastest from that group and slotted into fourth place, amassing another result that proves his strong condition, which saw the Argentinian get three podiums and five top 10 placings in the past six weeks.

 

Sven Erik Bystrøm with mixed emotions after strong ride in Switzerland

Team KATUSHA’s Sven Erik Bystrøm has decided he doesn’t want to ride in large group, as the Norwegian rider took an opportunity to go in the breakaway on Monday’s stage three. Continuing to show strong form and a willingness to work, Bystrøm was part of a small group that stayed clear until the final climb, when teammate Jhonatan Restrepo decided to join in the action to take sixth on the sprint. All-in-all, the KATUSHA group in the 80th Tour de Suisse are animating the race and creating chances in Switzerland.

 

”It was not really my plan to be in the breakaway all day. It was a very hard start with the climb in the beginning, so the peloton was really split up after only 10 km. I said to myself why not, since I was there in the front. I felt quite good during the stage. It was a good day to be in the break. We were a strong group of riders, so I’m a little disappointed I couldn’t make it over the last climb as I was quite close and perhaps I could have been with Sagan and the others – but that’s another story. So in some ways I am satisfied, but in others I am disappointed,” said Sven Erik Bystrøm.

 

Stage 3 from Grosswangen to Rheinfelden at 192,6 km was another rainy one ending in a group sprint won by current world champion Peter Sagan of Tinkoff. Challenging him on the same time of 4:31.17 were Michael Albasini (Orica-GreenEdge) and Silvan Dillier of BMC. Team KATUSHA’s Jhonatan Restrepo sprinted in for sixth at 3-seconds

 

KATUSHA’s Sergei Chernetckii moved up to 16th in overall, 33 seconds behind the leader.

 

“It was a hard stage, a difficult one with the rain all-day. During the stage I felt really empty because of an infection I’ve been struggling with. However, every day it is getting better. The legs felt also better by the end of the stage and I decided to sprint. I think I did a nice sprint only beaten by Roelandts and Richeze, two riders in good shape, and I was faster than Matthews. I hope I continue to recover in the coming days and again reach my level of California,” said Jhonatan Restrepo.

 

Rui Costa achieves first top 10 after tough day in Switzerland

Lampre-Merida focused their attention on supporting the captain Rui Costa, paying attention especially in the two laps of the final circuit. Costa stayed in the first chasing group, which was reduced to 26 members.
 

The leading trio defended the small advantage and Sagan could sprint for the victory; Rui Costa was 8th at 3".

There were good feedbacks from Niemiec who was 41st at 17". He will be a precious rider for the team together with Portuguese champion in the mountains stages.

Rui Costa climbed from 83rd place to the 31st position in the general classification, at 45".

 

"We had a day of very great rain," Costa wrote in his diary. "When it rains, it becomes more difficul.The profile had some small climbs and even though they were not high mountains, it was hard. I want to extend my congratulations to Peter Sagan for the great peformance. He was the strongest and deserved this victory. Fast and hard finales suit him perfectly and again he did not fail.

 

"As for me, I could not follow Sagan's wheel when he attacked. He is too explosive for my characteristics. But I managed to save the day without crashes and I was in the group of favorites. I was 8th and moved to 31st on GC. For now my feeling are not the best, but I hope to keep improving day by day, as the body will get used to the racing pace. Let's see what the legs can do in the high mountains."

 

In-form Simon Geschke glad to be back in the top 10 at WorldTour level

Despite their best efforts to close the break in the finale, Simon Geschke finished 9th in a reduced bunch as the breakaway contested the victory in Rheinfelden.

 

It was a strong ride by Giant-Alpecin, as they chased hard to close the gap to the break and Simon Geschke took 9th place in the reduced bunch closely followed by Warren Barguil and Sam Oomen. In the general classification, Geschke moves up to 10th place with Peter Sagan the new overall leader.

 

Simon Geschke said: “I was feeling really good on the hills and I was aiming for a good result today. Unfortunately, we couldn’t close the small gap to the leaders in the finale and my sprint was not perfect. Anyway, it’s good to feel that my shape is improving and to be competing on WorldTour level again.”

 

Coach Morten Bennekou added: “I think that the team did a good job today. We managed to protect Warren all day and we positioned him at the front of the bunch ahead of the last climbs.

 

“In front three riders sprinted for the victory and in the reduced bunch of 25 riders we had Warren, Simon, and Sam. Sam did an impressive job trying to bridge the gap to the leaders but unfortunately, we couldn’t. Simon sprinted to 9th and is now 10th in GC and we can be very optimistic for the upcoming stages.”

 

Jarlinson Pantano nearly makes it into the top 10 on wet day in Switzerland

“We all suffered because of the weather,” Jarlinson Pantano said after having a moment’s recovery at the end of the second stage.  “The final was difficult with two short but steep climbs.  And then the rain further complicated the race.”

 

Pantano, who took a strong 11th place in a finale that was packed with suspense, added: 

 

“I focused on the sprint.  Unfortunately, there were several roundabouts that broke up the flow of the pack, and we never managed to cork up the seconds separating us from the breakaway.”

 

“I did not even have time to get cold,” Martin Elmiger said. “However, contrary to comments made by some of the fans and other specialists, I am not a fan of days like this.”

  

Rik Verbrugghe, manager and directeur sportif for IAM Cycling, added:

 

“I was aware that the riders would likely be experiencing a stage worthy of a northern classic due to the unfavorable weather conditions they would be facing.  And that turned out to be the case.  We missed out on joining the break, but that did not matter in the end.  By the finish, Mathias Frank did not lose any time with the help of all his teammates, and then Jarlinson Pantano nearly cracked the top-10 in the final sprint.”

 

Geraint Thomas safely through dangerous day in Switzerland

Geraint Thomas jumped up into the top 10 overall following a wet and wild third stage at the Tour de Suisse.

 

A combination of a lumpy finishing circuit and soaking wet roads made for a thrilling Classics-style finish into Rheinfelden, with Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) emerging victorious once again.

 

The Slovakian moved into the overall lead after a daring attack over the final climb. Bridging across to Swiss duo Silvan Dillier (BMC Racing) and Michael Albasini (Orica-GreenEdge), Sagan kicked in the final metres to win the three-up sprint.

 

Thomas crossed the line 13th, three seconds later as part of a big-name chase group, severely reduced after a harder-than-expected finale. The Welshman was rewarded with a rise to ninth place overall, 19 seconds back on the yellow jersey of Sagan.

 

With the key objective not to lose time on tricky day over wet roads, the team rallied around Thomas across the 192.6km test. Michal Golas flanked Thomas at the finish, with Vasil Kiryienka also present in a group of less than 40 riders.

 

After the stage Sport Director Gabriel Rasch talked TeamSky.com through the test and an extremely tough day out for the peloton.

 

He explained: "It was a tough day for everyone and I think the weather played a big part. It was just starting to get dry and when the riders were part-way round the first finishing circuit it began to rain really hard. We knew those climbs at the end were hard and on narrow roads, so we were prepared for that.

 

"G rode well and the plan was just to come through today without any issues or time-loss. It was good to see Michal (Golas) up there at the end and Kiry as well. Leo (Konig) is making his return here and every day he will improve.

 

"Tomorrow it's another sprint stage. It's a pretty hard first 45-50 kilometres so we need to be really focused for those. Then after that it flattens out. It's all about being around G and trying to make the day as easy as possible for him."

 

Wilco Kelderman ready to fight after solid ride in Switzerland

Wilco Kelderman moved to seventh place in the overall standings of the Tour of Switzerland today. The leader of LottoNL-Jumbo placed 15th after another rainy day to Rheinfelden. World Champion Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) won, just like yesterday, ahead of Michael Albasini (Orica) and Silvan Dillier (BMC Racing).

 

After a breakaway of eight men took just over five minutes, the peloton reacted with teams Tinkoff and Lotto-Soudal at the head. In the last 50 kilometres, the peloton broke into groups and Kelderman managed to stay in front.

 

"I was put perfect into place thanks to Bram Tankink on the first climb of the last lap,” he said. In the final, Albasini jumped free and Kelderman saw him do so.

 

"The peloton wasn’t controlled anymore when Albasini made the jump. On the last climb, Sagan went too, but unfortunately, I was trapped,” he added.

 

He finished just three seconds back in the group.

 

“This is very nice.”

 

The stage today covered 192.6 kilometres.

 

"From the start, they went full gas,” explained Kelderman. “The whole day was pretty dry, and in the end, it began raining hard, but then you're already racing hard so you notice it less.”

 

“We had a lot of bad weather, which makes it hectic,” Sports Director Jan Boven said. “Especially in the last circuits, the team was attentive. The last lap of 27 kilometres was narrow and the climbs were steep. We previewed this stage and knew that we had to put Wilco in the front.  It broke into pieces and fortunately, we were able to put Wilco in the right place.

 

“He was trapped when Sagan went, unfortunately, but he went second or third over the final climb. Wilco rode the last kilometres relatively easily because there were teams with bigger interests."

 

Tomorrow the riders will start in Rheinfelden and finish in Champagne after 193 km. The sprinters or a good breakaway have another chance tomorrow.

 

Boven added, "Tomorrow is more or less the same as today, but tomorrow we're really in the mountains."

 

Izagirre brothers still in contention, Lobato abandons the Tour de Suisse

The Izagirre brothers remain in good position in the Tour de Suisse after coping very well with the insidious final circuit in Rheinfelden on stage three (192km), where Peter Sagan (TNK) offered yet another amazing exhibition with his attack through the final ascent of Schöneberg and victorious sprint against Albasini (OGE) and Dillier (BMC). The two from the Ormaiztegi saga were, alongside a nice Jasha Sütterlin - who was only dropped from the leading, 25-rider peloton by the huge speed in the run-in to the finish - the members from the Movistar Team in the favourites' group, very much selected by the racing pace, the steep hills -four of them in the final 50km - and the dazzling rain.

 

Ion sits now in fourth overall, 13" behind Sagan, with Gorka in sixth spot at 17" and losing no time in an overall classification which doesn't show Juanjo Lobato anymore, the Andalusian running out of energy during Monday's stage. Tuesday will bring another flat profile - though again with a short climb near the finish, Orges (Cat-3) - en route to Champagne (192km), the race's only French-speaking finish this year and the final chance for the sprinters before the grueling, big mountains show up from Wednesday.

 

Laurens De Vreese: I ahve never seen Scarponi so skinny

"I'm here to help our two leaders,” said Astana’s Laurens De Vreese . “My job is to help them to save much energy as possible. Today, for example, I have worked to protect Michele Scarponi .

 

"I had never seen Michele so skinny, certainly he will be one of the protagonists in the next stages.”

 

"Today’s stage has become very difficult due to heavy rain,” commented sport director Dmitri Sedoun. “I was a shame that in the end we lost a few seconds due to a split.

 

"In these stages, the goal is to defend.  We will attack, starting from the fifth stage, the high mountain climbs where we can make a difference.”

 

Bad crash for Tour de Luxembourg winner, Tolhoek takes the mountains jersey

Roompot - Orange Peloton experienced both joy and frustration. While Atwan Tolhoek celebrated on the podium in Rheinfelden as a new leader in the mountains classification, Maurits Lammertink was hospitalized and treated for injuries he sustained in a heavy crash. The winner of the Tour of Luxembourg suffered at least one fracture in the head of the upper arm and a broken rib.

 

Lammertink crashed a few kilometres after the feed zone, probably after a collision with a traffic obstacle in the middle of the road. After examination in Olten, damage to the hip joint and a deep cut on a knee were found. Tonight, the unfortunate rider  will be transferred to the University Clinic in Basel.

 

Things were different for Antwan Tolhoek. After yesterday’s strong attack, he took the mountains jersey.

 

"It was not really planned this morning, but when I saw the Team Roth guy (Krizek) in that beautiful blue jersey at the start this morning, I was fully motivated," said Tolhoek. 

 

Along with teammate Huub Duijn and four other riders he managed to stay ahead for a long time and win four of the six KOM sprints. 

 

"It is amazing that, thanks to a large lead, I will wear the mountains jersey for at least for the next two days. But our thoughts are also with Maurits. I really hope the damage is not too bad, "he said. 

 

Short way from the top to the bottom for Cancellara and Trek in Switzerland

The rain fell at the end of stage three and the two finishing laps, containing two punishing climbs, became a Classic-style battle that suited the punchy climbers. The pair of uphills - the Sonnenberg (2.2kms, 6.5%) and the Schöneberg (1.3kms,11.5%) – came in close succession and shattered the peloton into groups.

 

Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) deservingly won, displaying a show of strength no one could match over the final steep uphill while behind the peloton was reduced to a carcass of 41 riders. 

 

Fabian Cancellara was the first across the line for Trek-Segafredo, arriving in the next largest group in 48th place (+1'23"). Fränk Schleck arrived at three minutes followed by Peter Stetina at five – it was simply a dismal day for the team.

 

"It was absolutely not our day at all today," said director Kim Andersen, pulling no punches. "Very disappointing. It started well with Rasty (Gregory Rast) in the break and the other teams having to pull hard behind, and we were always well placed. But then in the end when we needed to be well positioned, we were not.

 

"It's not just about the legs for Fränk and Pete and the others. Jasper did tell me that he had terrible legs today, just a bad day, and Fabian tried – he was there and missed just 250 meters on the last steep climb. But there are no excuses. You can see how short it is from the top to bottom and how fast it can go downward in sport.  It was bad for us today. Now we need to regroup, focus on the next days, and go again."

 

The one bright spot of the 192.6-kilometer stage was the effort of Gregory Rast, who slipped into the day's principal escape and rode a strong race out front with seven others until the third to last climb, the steep Schöneberg ascent that became the demise of many.

 

"It was a good group, eight guys," explained Rast. "One guy did not pull, but that was not a problem, the rest worked well together. It was again a really hard final with two hard climbs on the laps, and I was not good enough to follow. I tried to come back, but couldn't."

 

When asked what his main goal was in joining the breakaway, Rast did not hesitate: "I was thinking to go in the breakaway to win the GC and the stage," he deadpanned.

 

It was a less than a stellar outing for Trek-Segafredo in stage three, but Rast can always take a bleak moment and make it a little more light-hearted. With its GC likely finished, Trek-Segafredo will turn its focus to stage results over the remaining days.

 

Down, but not definitely not out.  

 

Kanstantsin Siutsou loses time in the Tour ded Suisse

For Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka, it was not going to be a good day. Reinardt Janse van Rensburg came home with the 2nd group on the road, after being distanced by the main group during the final climb. Team leader Kanstantsin Siutsou finished further back.

 

Van Rensburg said:
 

“The conditions made a hard circuit even harder once again today. I just got dropped over the top of the last climb but it looked like my group had a chance to come back, which contained strong guys like Cancellara and Durbridge. Unfortunately it was not to be. I look forward to the last sprint opportunity tomorrow.”

 

CCC out of GC contention in Switzerland

The riders of Polkowice-based CCC squad were unable to stay in the group with race favorites, as the top finisher, Felix Grossschartner came in in 54th, 1:23 behind. Maciej Paterski arrived in another group, 2:23 back, and team leader Victor de la Parte lost 3 minutes.

 

Verva climbers lose time on wet day at the Tour de Suisse

Pawel Cieslik and Jordi Simon arrived more than 2 minutes behind in 60th and 61st place. 

 

“The stage was heavy and fast. I did not feel the best today, and the weather did not help us to get the job done. The peloton was eager and the pace was fast on the flat. I was at the back after the first lap, when the peloton split in two and although we were close to the main group, we never came back. It is too bad with the time loss but we still have 6 stages,” said Cieslik.