Darwin Atapuma (BMC) finally got the victory that so narrowly eluded him on several occasions at the Giro d’Italia when he successfully completed a long-distance attack on stage 5 of the Tour de Suisse. Having joined a 24-rider group, he dropped his final companions with a big attack on the last climb and narrowly held off a fast-finishing Warren Barguil (Giant-Alpecin) who attacked out of the group of favourites to take second. Pierre Latour (Ag2r) won the sprint for third and moves into the race lead.

 

We have gathered several reactions.

 

Darwin Atapuma: My near-misses at the Giro have me the motivation to win this stage

Darwin Atapuma put in an incredible ride on Stage 5 of the Tour de Suisse to solo to victory on the first mountain stage of the race.

 

It was a day of redemption for Atapuma, who dedicated the win to his late mother, after a string of near-misses at the Giro d’Italia.

 

Atapuma formed part of a strong 24-rider breakaway after 20 kilometers of racing. As the breakaway reached the final climb of the day, it was down to a small group of riders to battle it out on the climb.

 

Atapuma attacked solo with six kilometers to go, and managed to hold off the General Classification group who were closing in, in the final hundred meters.

 

Tejay van Garderen showed his form in the GC group, crossing the line to take fourth place on the stage and move into fifth place on GC, 18 seconds behind new race leader Pierre Latour (AG2R La Mondiale).

 

“Four days after the Giro d’Italia I came and did a recon of the final climb as I thought it would be a good stage for me,” Atapuma said. “I was confident after the Giro d’Italia because I had really good legs. I looked at the stages of the Tour de Suisse and as this one finished at a high altitude and the two climbs before were also high, I knew it would suit me. If the altitude is more than 2000m it suits me well. I trained at altitude in the lead up to race to stay focused and motivated.

 

“I was confident when the breakaway reached the final climb as we still had a reasonable gap. I knew that there were two possible scenarios that were good for the team. If Tejay attacked from behind, then I would be there to help him. Or, in case I got close to the finish as we eventually did, I would attack for the win.

 

“I knew it was possible to win but I needed to stay focused. I had good legs, the others had dropped and I know the climb well. I was waiting for the right moment to attack and when I went I managed to develop a good gap, and it paid off. I had to dig deep in the final kilometer as I knew there were riders getting closer. But I just wanted the win so badly.

 

“It was a very hard stage but I tried in the finale and I’m very happy to win. I want to dedicate it to my mother, who died last year, and to my team for all their support. It’s the biggest win of my career and I’m very happy to able to claim a victory in a big race like the Tour de Suisse.

 

"It was a hard day. We tried to defend for Tejay (Van Garderen) at first because there were a lot of attacks. Then I saw that many riders were attacking and I went. We formed a large group and the pace was high. In the end, I tried and I am very happy to have won such a beautiful stage.

 

"The team lined me up to perform this kind of thing and I responded very well. I am very happy.

 

“For sure my results at the Giro d’Italia gave me confidence as I know I have good form. The fact that I missed out on a stage win there gave me more motivation and kept me focused for this win. I did everything possible to stay in good form. I’m especially happy because I know how important this win is for BMC Racing Team and our title sponsor BMC Switzerland. To take the win at the Tour de Suisse is really something special for me and the team.”

 

Sports director Fabio Baldato added:

 

“The plan for today was to try and put Silvan Dillier and Philippe Gilbert in the breakaway, to hopefully gain a good gap of five or six minutes. But when we saw the strong guys that went in the break, Darwin knew that he had to jump in. A 24-rider breakaway is dangerous so it was good to have Darwin there to put the pressure on.

 

“If Tejay wanted to attack and was in the position to do so, then Darwin would be there. Team Sky set a tempo but there wasn’t a really strong chase which worked well for Darwin. For Tejay this was also a great result. He had good legs and gained a couple of seconds back on some of the GC guys, so he is well positioned going into the next mountain stages.”

 

Warren Barguil: I know that I need to gain time before the time trial

The day got off to a positive start for Giant-Alpecinwith Laurens ten Dam part of the early break of 24 riders. However on the first climb of the day, Cheng Ji and Tobias Ludvigsson were forced to abandon the Tour de Suisse. Indeed, they have both had very busy racing programs and with the high mountains they had no energy left in them to continue.

 

In the final kilometer, Warren Barguil escaped from the GC group and took third. An excellent result for him. In the overall classification, Barguil moves up to fourth, 16″ behind new leader Pierre-Roger Latour (AG2R La Mondiale).

 

Warren Barguil said: “It was a nice day for me. My legs were good and my teammates protected me really well during the stage. I was thinking of attacking with 5 km to go but the pace was not high enough in the reduced group because of course I need to gain time before the time trial on Saturday.

 

"It was fast at the start and then it calmed down. Everyone was looking at each other. I tried to make it harder. The pace again went down so I attacked under the red flame. I did not miss much to catch Atapuma. I was already 3rd on a stage of the Basque Country, 2nd here. I hope I will win something before the end of the season. It's been a month and a half since I did my last race but I have a good coach and I had ​​twenty days alone in the Sierra Nevada. Of course, I prepare for the Tour, but I'm not someone who holds anything back if I have chance to win. 

 

"Anyway, I wanted to try my luck and my legs were good. There are still some difficult days when there will be things to do.

 

“The training in Sierra Nevada and the preparations with my trainer Morten helped me a lot today. I think I have taken a step forward this year and I hope I will continue this way.”

 

“Next time I hope to be in a breakaway again but then with better legs,” explained Laurens ten Dam.” I was happy to be there but I was disappointed to drop when the group split.”

 

Coach Morten Bennekou added: “The team in general and Warren individually did a really good stage today. Warren was well supported until the last climb by Sam [Oomen], Sindre [Lunke], and Simon [Geschke]. And on the uphill finish he was the strongest.

 

“Unfortunately, Atapuma made it to the line with a 3 seconds gap after a long day in the breakaway so Warren finished 2nd after attacking out of the first group within the last 2km. He is now fourth in the GC and we are looking forward to the upcoming days.”

 

New leader Pierre Latour: I haven’t really realized what has happened

"It was planned that we should try to get into the break,” said Pierre Latour. And Hubert Dupont managed to be there which was perfect as he was well positioned overall. My teammates helped me all day and at the bottom of the last climb, Christophe Riblon positioned me and took my rain jacket. I knew we would catch Hubert who then did a great job. In the last 500 meters, I took the wheel of Lopez and there was a split and I attacked. At 300 meters, Thomas and Keldermann were with me. I gave it all the 150 meters, I was suffering but I passed them. 

 

”This jersey is unexpected. I came to the Tour of Switzerland without real goals: win a stage, try to get a place in the GC, test me for the future. Now I find myself as leader of a race of the UCI WorldTour. I do not really realize what has happened. There are two big mountain stages and a time trial. It will be very hard but we have a great group and I will fight to the end.

 

“The whole day was very hard with the rain on the descent of the second climb. We had Hubert Dupont in the break. There are still some big stages. I do not know what will happen. I have never finish as high as Sölden. It was the stage that Pinot won last year and I do not know how my body will react, but it's good.”

 

Sports director Gilles Mas said:

 

“It's amazing. Pierre was fantastic. He is amazing, very receptive and attentive and has incredible qualities. He knew not to attack until the last moment to pick up a third place and the jersey. This is really a message. There are two very difficult stages and a time trial. Nothing is decided but we will try to defend the jersey.”
 

Optimistic Wilco Kelderman: My numbers are better than ever

LottoNL Jumbo’s Wilco Kelderman came a few tenths of a second too short to get the leader's jersey in the Tour de Suisse. The 25-year-old Dutchman finished fifth in the stage won by Darwin Atapuma (BMC).

 

Pierre Latour (AG2R) took the jersey after placing third with the same time in the overall as Kelderman.

 

A break went early into the 126-kilometre stage. Sports Director Frans Maassen appointed Koen Bouwman and Paul Martens to be in the breakaway, but Bram Tankink did so with 24 others.

 

"Tankink said that he felt strong and wanted to go in the break,” Maassen explained. “It was quite a struggle to get in the break but he finally succeeded.”

 

After the break split on the Gotthard Pass and Tankink returned to the peloton.

 

“He put Kelderman in the front at the foot of the final climb to Cari."

 

"I fell. That was a disappointment,” said Kelderman. "Someone stood up on his pedals and I struck his wheel. I broke my bike, but my legs were good. I felt right so I had morale in the final. The crash was stupid, though."

 

"At the time Kelderman went to the doctor, the peloton broke up. Fortunately, Lindeman and Martens could close the gap,” added Maassen. “We will see what the damage is tonight, but what Kelderman showed on the final climb bodes well."

 

"We get four stages to climb,” Kelderman added. “I had hoped that I would have this level because in altitude training my values ​​were good. Better than before.

 

"It was a stupid crash and that happens to me a little too often. You're out of focus and my bike was broken, but the legs were good, I felt all right. But it was very stupid, I rode too easy on that first climb. "

 

“We set the bar high today and Kelderman proved that he is on a good level,” continued Maassen. “He looked strong and we knew that this would be possible. The jersey is always nice, but we are certainly not upset because there are still four difficult days where Kelderman can try."

 

On the final climb, Kelderman was in the small peloton and he tried to attack in the final. Not much later, Warren Barguil (Giant Alpecin) moved clear and finished four seconds behind Atapuma. Seven seconds behind the winner, Latour finished, and at nine seconds, Tejay van Garderen (BMC) and Kelderman. Latour, thanks to bonus seconds, was equal with Kelderman, but the hundredths of a second in the prologue the difference.

 

"Tomorrow is a similar stage like today, more hard climbs and summit finish,” said Maassen. “We hope that Kelderman shows the same strength tomorrow.”

 

Sky: It’s doable for Geraint Thomas to win the Tour de Suisse

Geraint Thomas moved up to third overall at the Tour de Suisse after a strong finish to stage five.

 

Thomas battled hard on the final, punishing hors categorie climb to come home sixth in Cari, 12 seconds behind stage winner Darwin Atapuma (BMC), who just held on from the day's break.

 

The Welshman now sits a slim five seconds off the lead, behind new race leader Pierre Latour (Ag2r-La Mondiale) and Wilco Kelderman (LottoNL-Jumbo), both of whom finished just ahead of Thomas on the stage, in third and fifth respectively.

 

Team Sky had produced a supremely strong team performance to set Thomas up on the final climb, with Christian Knees, Vasil Kiryienka, Leo Konig, Michal Golas and Ian Boswell all putting in huge stints at the front of the reduced bunch after a gruelling wet day in Switzerland.

 

Sport Director Gabriel Rasch was quick to point out what a tough stage it had been when TeamSky.com caught up with him back at the bus.

 

He said: "It was a really good effort from all the guys today. It was full on from the start and we wanted to have a small group and control the day, but it got too hard and too crazy, so Bos and David [Lopez] jumped in the break.

 

"That made it easier and Astana didn't have anybody in the break so they had to chase. That made it easier and we then took it on again on the last climb with Christian and Michal."

 

Rasch added that Thomas and the rest of the guys are in good shape, although Danny van Poppel pulled out of the race midway through the stage.

 

He said: "I think there might have been a little too much stop-start for G on the last section, but he's in a good place at the moment. The win won't be easy, but it's definitely doable.

 

"All of the guys are strong and looking ahead. Sadly Danny stopped today though - he has abandoned."

 

Thomas was one of the only contenders not to launch an attack of his own as the tempo increased in the final 3km, content to measure his effort and chase back on, and the Welshman finished strongly to stay in contention ahead of the tougher tests to come.

 

Rui Costa: Don’t expect too much from me at the Tour de Suisse

Rui Costa and Jan Polanc were the two most competitive riders from LAMPRE-MERIDA

The duo from LAMPRE-MERIDA Krisjtian Durasek (winner of the Risch Rotkreuz stage in the Tour de Suisse 2015) and Jan Polanc were in the early break. They were dropped on the Gotthardpass but the Slovenian rider succeeded in limiting the gap and he could get back to the front group on the descent. Polanc could complete a good performance, reaching the finish line as 18th at 59".
 

With 3km to go, Rui Costa raised the pace and only Van Garderen, Pantano and Thomas could be with him. The Portuguese champion crossed the line in 8th place, at 16" and lost a few meters to ban Garderen in the final sprint (7" to the American rider).

In the general classification, Rui Costa is very close to the top 10, 11th at 35".

"Today stage was a good test to check my condition, considering both the long term program for the Tour de France and the current competition of the Tour de Suisse,” Rui Costa explained. “During the whole stage I was in the group of the top climbers and main general classification contenders. I had quite good feelings, but I feel I can improve my gorm and this is something good, especially thinking to the big appointment next month.
 

“It will be interesting to evaluate how the top riders will recover in view of the next stage with the summit finish at Amden and the climb of Klausenpass on the course.

 

“Today we had the first high mountain stage and, as I said this morning, it would be a good day to test my form I notice that I am still not my best. That's the goal, to keep improving and be as good aspossible for the next race, the Tour de France.

 

Many of you have high expectations for me at this race, but you shouldn’t. Firstly, Switzerland is not the main objective. The most important races are the Tour, Olympics, European Championships.

 

“Secondly, the route of this Tour of Switzerland is quite different from the years when I won. When I won three times in a row, we had a mountain time trial or a hard time trial but this year we have a less hard TT of 17km.

 

”It will be difficult I'm going to fight for the best possible result and to get a good competitive pace. I will give my best.”

 

Miguel Angel Lopez confident after first test in Swiss mountains

"I felt good  - and decided to attack first on the final climb. Today it started to get serious,” said Miguel Angel Lopez Moreno from Astana.

 

"I'm satisfied. The feelings are good and I think I can improve my ninth position in the overall standings.”

 

Michele Scarponi (now 12th in GC) and Lopez Moreno arrived together 16 seconds behind the stage winner.

 

"Even today the team has made a great contribution and our two leaders remained with the best,” commented sporting director Dmitri Sedoun.

 

"It was a stage in which the favorites wanted to understand their condition. From today, all the stages that await us are killers.”

 

Simon Spilak: I limited my losses

It was the first of several days in the high mountains on Wednesday’s stage 5 in the 80th Tour de Suisse. Team KATUSHA had both Sergei Chernetckii and Simon Špilak riding for results on a challenging day of high climbs through the snowfields of Switzerland.

 

”It was a very hard day, this first mountain stage. The last climb was a tough one and I tried to do my best. I felt good and was able to stay in front almost until the end. When van Garderen and others attacked, I preferred to hold my pace since the climb was hard and I could pay later if I answered all attacks. I limited my losses and the differences are small. There are still two really hard days ahead so we will see how it ends up,” said Simon Špilak.

 

Špilak took eleventh place at 32-seconds while behind him in 16th place was teammate Chernetckii at +0.59.

 

Young Matvey Mamykin did a very strong race today. In the beginning of the stage he was able to go in the breakaway where he protected team’s interests until the last climb.

 

Team KATUSHA’s Špilak and Chernetckii hold places 13 and 15 at 44- and 66-seconds respectively. Špilak moved up seven spots on today’s stage.

 

Jarlinson Pantano takes over from sick Mathias Frank at the Tour de Suisse

“I saw a very good Jarlinson Pantano,” IAM manager Rik Verbrugghe said just after the finish of the first mountain stage at the Tour de Suisse.  “He stayed with the best riders until the last meters, and even tried his own attack with two kilometers to go.”

 

Rik Verbrugghe, sports manager for IAM Cycling, spoke of a day of contrasts for the team. 

 

“The stage was very fast with a vigorous initial brawl to get in the break.  Dries Devenyns found his place among the 24 who did manage to escape.  But I would have liked to have seen a second rider from our team up there, too.  Similarly, Mathias Frank was able to limit the damage on that final climb since he has been still suffering from some health problems that he picked up before the start of the Tour de Suisse.”

  

“It was again a demanding stage, and we have similarly difficult stages to come.  My legs turned out to be going well, and I am confident for the future,” Pantano said.

 

A downcast Mathias Frank could only be disappointed after conceding to the other favorites 1’21” in the last two kilometers of the stage, though he is not really fully healthy and in perfect condition. 

 

“I am not happy, of course, although I have taken over the jersey for the best Swiss rider.  I felt comfortable over the Furka, but then things started going poorly.  When we were at higher altitudes and when the pace accelerated, I just couldn’t get enough air.  I could not breathe normally, and at this level, there is just no forgiveness.  That was painfully evident for me in the final kilometers of the last ascent.”

 

Bad day for the Izagirre brothers in Swiss mountains

Aged just 22, and exactly twelve months after battling against the likes of Nairo Quintana and Alberto Contador in the 2015 Route du Sud, Frenchman Pierre Latour (ALM) donned today the yellow jersey of the Tour de Suisse after reaching the finish of Carì (HC climb) in 3rd place. Stage five, a short (126km), yet tremendously demanding - with the ascents towards the Furkapass (HC) and the Gotthard (Cat-1) - and extra difficult due to rain at some points of the course, saw the Movistar Team directed by Jaimerena and Laguía riding more aggressively than they have done so far in this race.

 

Winner Anacona had a prominent role in the 24-man breakaway that led the whole race, with fellow countryman Darwin Atapuma (BMC) conserving a slender gap over the GC favourites at the finish line. Anacona created the final selection - five riders, with Dupont, Berhane and Wellens – on the Gotthardpass and later on went on the attack several times on the Carì climb until he started to suffer from halfway through the ascent.

 

Behind, struggling as their form still builds up - and well supported by an excellent Jorge Arcas, who got through the two opening climbs and helped them out in a group of barely thirty riders - Gorka and Ion Izagirre were close to making the GC group after lots of attacking in the finale. However, the last kick uphill cost the Basque duo a handful of seconds to  the main field - Gorka was 13th, Ion finished 15th - and took them into seventh and eighth overall, half a minute behind Latour.

 

The Tour de Suisse will offer some new, big mountains on Thursday, with a longer (161km) route yet with only two climbs at lower altitude: the long Klausenpass (HC; summit at 61km from the end) and the Category-1 Amden ascent, prelude to the astonishing Rettenbachferner on Friday.

 

Tour of Austria winner shows fine form in Switzerland

CCC Sprandi Polkowice had three representatives in the peloton at the bottom of the final climb: Victor de la Parte, Felix Grossschartner and Branislau Samoilau.

 

Victor de la Parte put in a solid climbing performance, as he lost contact with the big guns with just 2km to go. Eventually he arrived at 14th place, 43 seconds back. He now sits in 20th place overall (3:42 behind).

 

Verva climber impresses in Swiss mountain stage

Karel Hnik was supposed to be the leader in this race for VERVA ActiveJet Team, but it was not to be. He crashed and was taken by helicopter to a hospital. Fortunately, nothing serious happened.

 

 

His teammate Pawel Cieslik by taking 19th and even said that he could have done better. 

 

“I felt very good today. On the first and second climb I did not have problems to go with the best. Unfortunately, at the bottom of the final climb it was cold and raining. I froze and I didn’t feel as good on the final climb. Despite this, I am happy with the result, because it is good to lose just over a minute on such a hard stage,” said Cieslik, who moved up to 21st place in the overall standings. 

 

Petr Vakoc tests himself in the high mountains in Switzerland

On the last ascent – a 11.5-km long one averaging 8% – Petr Vakoč put in a strong ride, staying with the best until the closing kilometers, and even after losing contact as a result of a flurry of attacks, the Brabantse Pijl winner still didn't throw in the towel and kept his composure, pacing himself to the finish line in Cari, a small village which was hosting a Tour de Suisse stage for the first time in history. As a result, Vackoc – who is at this first participation in the Tour de Suisse – lies in 17th place in the general classification and will now look with confidence to stage 6, which will see the peloton climb Klausenpass and Amden, for more than 3000 altitude meters.

 

“Today I wanted to see how far I can get on a mountain stage. Content to finish just outside the top 20. 3 more stages and a TT to go,” he tweeted.

 

Riccardo Zoidl and Peter Stetina ride aggressively in Swiss mountains

Stage five presented the first of three successive summit finishes in the Tour de Suisse and the first time for the climbers to take center stage.

 

Trek-Segafredo was aggressive at the start of the 126.4-kilometer race as both Peter Stetina and Riccardo Zoidl tried their hands at getting into the day's move.

 

It was Zoidl who was able to join a large 24-rider breakaway, staying with the strong group until the top of the penultimate mountain pass where final attacks shattered the breakaway and by the bottom of the wet, cold descent only seven riders had regrouped to start the final ascent to the finish.

 

With just over one minute's advantage over the chasing peloton, Darwin Atapuma (BMC) was the only escapee to hold off the catch - by a mere four seconds - to secure the victory. Zoidl, along with the rest of his compatriots, was swept up the pursuing peloton and rode to the finish in his own reasonable tempo, his race over.

 

"It was very, very hard to get into the breakaway," explained Zoidl. "I tried a few times, which hurt me a lot, and then 20 guys went up the road and then I had to go all-in to get across. After that, it was never easy; we only had around one and a half to two minutes.

 

"Then on the Gotthardpass there were a lot of attacks, and at the top it split into four or five groups. It was hard because teams had two or three guys there and so I had to play a little bit poker because alone you cannot follow everything."

 

Peter Stetina was the highest finisher for the team in 24th place, displaying strong climbing form as he was active early on, and again with a spirited attack on the final climb. Although his move was short-lived as Team Sky upped the pace to quickly shut it down, Stetina was able to recover and finish a little over two minutes behind the favorites group.

 

Stetina said: "It was a hard day. Ricci and I were jumping for the breakaway, so we had spent a few bullets early on. It was good that we had Ricci in the big move of the day. Team Astana missed it, so they set a relentless tempo all day, and it became a race of attrition.

 

"It was so cold on the downhill of the Gotthardpass because it was raining, so we were trying to survive the descent until the final fireworks on the climb. Frank (Schleck) and I were there and both feeling pretty strong. I saw the peloton was still pretty big and kind of lagging right around 7 kilometers to go, so at 6 kilometers I decided to hit, but Kiryienka had just taken over [pace setting] for Sky and I didn't get too far up the road before I started to blow up.

 

"When I attacked, you really go by sensations, your breathing and heart rate shoots up, and not watching the SRM power. You have to make a judgment call if you can sustain it. Today they ratcheted up the pace pretty quick, so unfortunately, it turned into just a Hail Mary, I guess.

 

"Today was a case of just sitting in the wheels and continuing the race of attrition or being aggressive, and I chose the latter. The legs are good, so I preferred to be aggressive since we have nothing to lose."

 

Natnael Berhane shows impressive form at the Tour de Suisse

Natnael Berhane and Kanstantsin Siutsou made sure they were at the helm of it all by joining the 24 rider break that went clear after 20km of racing.

 

When the break reached the first big climb, Berhane and Siutsou were both looking strong, driving the pace. The penultimate climb saw a strong headwind greet riders but this did not stop Berhane from attacking the group. The Eritrean put in two big attacks and this saw the group reduced to only 7 riders, Siutsou included.

 

On the descent the weather turned and the rain came pelting down, making conditions somewhat precarious. There was a small split on the descent but by the bottom of the descent, Siutsou ensured that Berhane was brought back to the front of affairs.

 

The final climb of the stage was the 11.5km road up to Cari. When the 7 leaders reached the base, they only had 1 minute to play with. They would proceed to attack each other relentlessly up until 6km to go, this was when Atapuma would have the final say. The Colombian rode away from Berhane who was the final rider to be able to follow the surge by the BMC rider.

 

The other riders in the break were caught before the finish, Berhane was reeled in with 3.5km to go and ended the stage in 25th place, 2’26” down. It was a courageous ride by the Eritrean Champion, well supported by the experience of Siutsou.

 

Natnael Berhane said:
 

“It was a really tough stage today but it was a good stage. I was feeling really good and happy to have made the breakaway with Kanstantsin. The team helped me a lot to be in a good position to go in the break. First I was away with Anacona and Joe Dombrowski before everyone else came across to us on the first climb. I was really happy with my feeling, the legs were good. In the final climb there was many attacks. I thought Anacona was the strong one so I followed his big attack straightaway. When Atapuma came from behind I followed his attack also but then he went a second time. I am happy with the legs and look forward to trying to go in the break again and try to win a stage.”

 

FDJ talent suffers bad injuries in Tour de Suisse crash

Taken by helicopter to the hospital in Bern following a crash, FDJ’s Pierre-Henri Lecuisinier suffered fractures of two vertebrae and a broken collarbone. 

 

“He will undergo surgery. We have to see whether it will happen here or in France but there are no neurological complications ," said Dr. Jacky Maillot.

 

Orica-GreenEDGE to ride aggressively in Swiss mountains

ORICA-GreenEDGE riders Michael Matthews and Amets Txurruka had a long day in the breakaway on a hard stage five in the Tour de Suisse.

 

The Basque and Australian riders made it into the day's main breakaway comprising of 24 riders ahead of two challenging mountain passes.

 

Darwin Atapuma (BMC-Racing Team) was the only surviver of the group and went on to take the stage victory just four seconds ahead of a chasing bunch, causing a shake up in the general classification. 

 

Danish rider Chris Juul-Jensen was the highest place finisher for the team, finishing in 35th position after a late effort to try cross to the leaders on the final climb.

 

"Right from the start there were attacks," explained sport director Neil Stephens after the finish of the stage. "It was a really solid stage right from the word go.

 

"The boys were good, we got Michael and Amets in the first, main break and from there on the race just settled in. 

 

"Sam Bewley was caught behind a fairly big crash today, luckily he didn't come down he just locked up a wheel and blew out his tire.

 

"The weather was the worst at the top of the second climb and around that point Michael lost contact with the front group and eventually Amets was also caught after a solid effort out front.

 

"Chris had an attack in the final of the race just to have a good go and even though expectations weren't too high today, the guys wanted to give it a good go and make it a hard day, give themselves a bit of a workout and that's basically what we are looking to do tomorrow aswell."

 

Peter Sagan to build condition in Swiss mountain stages

Tinkoff sport Director Patxi Vila knew that it would be hard to control the break on such a demanding parcours.

 

“We knew what was coming today, and so after a really hard start where we had guys suffering from the beginning, we were in damage limitation mode. It was a strong break that went today, and they went when it was hard, but our guys have been riding on the front for the past days so it was a tough one for us.”

 

While Peter Sagan had fallen back on the difficult climb of the Furka, he quickly came back in contact on the descent of the Gotthardpass – the Tinkoff leader’s descending skills smoothly putting him back with the main group. With the final climb into Cari still to come however, it would prove difficult for the UCI World Champion to hold onto the race lead on such mountainous terrain.

 

After what was an incredibly hard first day in the mountains, Sagan handed over his yellow jersey, but this came after an incredibly strong opening four stages, where he took two stage wins and challenged hard for a third. From the finish, Vila explained the team’s plans for the day.

 

“The guys all got to the finish, which was the objective. We said before that we wanted to see how Manuele Boaro would feel riding for the GC but we saw today he's quite fatigued from the Giro and he was suffering, the same for Ivan Rovny too.”

 

With some demanding and difficult stages coming up, the aim now was to build on Sagan and the team’s form for the climbs in the Tour de France and look ahead to stage 8’s ITT, explained Patxi.

 

“In Peter's case, he's riding now to get some good climbing in the legs before the Tour de France. There are other hard days coming, as we knew before coming to the race without any GC contenders, but we will continue to fight how we can. And we can look towards the time trial on Saturday where hopefully Bodnar can go for a good result.”