On the first uphill finish, Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) could not shine in the Tour de Suisse. He attacked the world champion, but blew himself up a bit. Dane Mattias Skjelmose (Trek-Segafredo) was victorious and is also the new leader. Cian Uijtdebroeks was fifth.
“If I have good legs, I will try to increase my lead in the standings today,” said Rimko Evenpoel before the start of the third stage.
And it seems that those good legs have also been around for a long time. Our countryman put his teammates to work and even jumped wide on the final climb. He seemed to have taken the leader’s shirt.
But in the same pre-start interview, Evenboel had already warned of a strong Dane in the peloton. “Matthias Skgelmos has been in altitude training for a long time,” he said. “He may be the most dangerous customer today.”
And it turns out Evenepoel was right. Skjelmose was the only one who could immediately respond to an attack from the world champion 5km from the finish.
A few moments later, Felix Gall also joined. But neither of them wanted to take Evenböl. After the Dane and Austrian finished our compatriot’s dish, Gall left.
Skjelmose still jumped at it, until Evenepoel cracked. In the final kilometre, Skjelmose finally left Gal behind and won the stage and the leader’s jersey.
Evenepoel (4th) came 21 seconds behind the Dane with strong Cian Uijtdebroeks (5th) at the wheel.
Skjelmose: “I suspected if Remco was playing a game”
“I wasn’t sure if I could beat Remko: he went too fast,” Skjelmose said after his double in Switzerland.
“When I released Remco, I didn’t know if he was playing a game or if he was maxed out. But I kept believing in myself and gave everything I had.”
For example, Skjelmose claimed his first-ever WorldTour win: “I had big question marks about my climbing abilities beforehand.”
“Well, it may not have been the hardest hike, but this was still a long climb, and I did really well. So I guess we can put a question mark on my climbing ability.”
17 hours 16. Evenpol was fourth, 21 seconds behind Skjelmose. The other Belgian, Sean Oetdebroux, was fifth. .
Evenepoel was fourth, 21 seconds behind Skjelmose. The other Belgian, Sean Oetdebroux, was fifth.
5 p.m. 14. Skjelmose wins! Matthias Skgelmos wins the stage and takes the leader’s yellow jersey from Küng. .
Skjelmose wins!
Matthias Skgelmos wins the stage and takes the leader’s yellow jersey from Küng.
5 p.m. 13. The Attack on Skjelmose! Skjelmose gained several yards on Gal. It looks like Dane takes the win. .
Skjelmose Attack!
Skjelmose gained several yards on Gal. It looks like Dane takes the win.
17:13 Ayuso speeds towards the front runners, and Evenepoel is now running in group 2..
Ayusu is accelerating towards the top two, with Evenenpoel now also running in the second group.
5 p.m. 13.
Evenepoel creaked in the lock.
5 p.m. 12. Gall and Skylmouss meet at the head of the race. The Austrians and Danes still have to climb a kilometer. .
Gall and Skylmouss meet at the head of the course. The Austrians and Danes still have to climb a kilometer.
5 pm 11. The five chasers keep pace with the world champion. Can they still catch up to the two leaders together? .
The five chasers keep pace with the world champion. Can they still catch up to the two leaders together?
5 m 10.
Evenepoel has to let Gall drive.
5:09 PM Skjelmose is now also jumping away from Evenepoel. Will the Dane take over the leader’s shirt? Anyway, we don’t see Evenepoel’s best in action. .
Skjelmose now also jumps away from Evenepoel. Will the Dane take over the leader’s shirt?
Anyway, we don’t see Evenepoel’s best in action.
5 p.m. 08. Speeding up gal. Gall takes advantage of Eveneball’s main action and leaves his fellow escapees behind 2.5km from the summit. .
accelerate gal
Gall takes advantage of Eveneball’s main action and leaves his fellow escapees behind 2.5km from the summit.
5:05 p.m., differences remain limited, but no connection. Evenepoel calmly continues with two bags. .
The differences remain limited, but there is no connection. Evenepoel calmly continues with two bags.
17 hours 04. In group 2 tear. 8 knights, including Uijtdebroeks, Bilbao and Ayuso, want to go to the three leaders, Powless has to pass. .
In group 2 cracks. 8 knights, including Uijtdebroeks, Bilbao and Ayuso, want to go to the three leaders, Powless has to pass.
5 p.m. 01.
Evenepoel attacks and gets two riders.
17 hours 01.10 seconds. Evenepoel continues to lead without looking back. The gap on 20 chasers is 10 seconds. .
10 seconds
Evenepoel continues to lead without looking back. The gap on 20 supplements is 10 seconds.
17 hours. Ugtdebrox is leading the chase. Will we get a second Belgian at the top of the race? .
Ugtdebrox is leading the chase. Will we get a second Belgian at the top of the race?
16h59 Remco attack! Küng was thrown overboard, and immediately afterward Evenepoel jumped away. Skjelmose responds smoothly to our countryman’s acceleration. Gal with us too. .
Remco Attack!
Küng was thrown overboard, and immediately afterward Evenepoel jumped away. Skjelmose responds smoothly to our countryman’s acceleration. Gal with us too.
16 hours 59.
What can Evenepoel do on the final climb?
4:57 p.m., with a strong beat, Knox. Knox now really puts a chord on it. More and more riders are dropping out. Is this a precursor to Evenepoel jumping? .
Knox with a solid rhythm
Knox now really puts a chord on it. More and more riders are dropping out. Is this a precursor to Evenepoel jumping?
16h 56. For Hijita, who last year is still ranked second in the final rankings, it’s going too fast. All balls on Schachmann and Uijtdebroeks and then on Bora-Hansgrohe. .
For Higuita, still last year’s second in the final standings, things are going very quickly. All balls on Schachmann and Uijtdebroeks and then on Bora-Hansgrohe.
4:53 p.m. Van Aert passes by. Van Aert raises his thumb to the camera again and then lets go. .
Fits Van Aert
Van Aert raises his thumb to the camera again and then lets go.
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