Nicolas Roche is now into the top 10 overall at the Tour
de Suisse after the first day in the mountains on Thursday.
The Irish rider was among the best of the select group
that came through to overhaul most of the early breakaway before the finish.
However, one of the escapees would take the big prize on
offer in the shape of stage victory; Antwan Tolhoek (Jumbo Visma) going to solo
to win.
The Dutch rider was hunted down all the way to the line by Egan Bernal of Team Ineos.
The Colombian took flight from the select group close to finish on the final climb to Flumserberg.
And while he rode well clear of those he was with and
picked off the survivors from the early escape, he fell 17 seconds short of
Tolhoek who took a deserved victory on the day.
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Bernal had at least the satisfaction of taking the race
leader’s jersey and now having confirmation his form is coming good in advance
of the Tour de France.
For his part, Nicolas Roche (Team Sunweb) also caught and passed all of the large breakaway men bar five, including today’s winner.
And though some of those he and Bernal were with in the select group rode away from Roche in the closing stages, the Irish rider was 16th man over the line.
He was 1:15 down on the winner and 58 seconds down on
Bernal; the Colombian now really in the driving seat.
The result means Roche has moved up the general standings
by five places to 10th, but the gap to yellow is bigger than at the start of
today’s stage.
Team Ineos set a very high pace up the final climb today, Kenny Ellisonde in particular going very well.
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