Philip Deignan's rebirth continues at Tour de Suisse; makes podium, moves close to yellow

Philip Deignan crests the summit of Gotthardpass climb after 73km on the way to 2nd place on stage 2 of the Tour de Suisse today.

The rebirth of Philip Deignan that began last year with something of a comeback season in the colours of Unitedhealthcare is continuing unabated with Team Sky.

The Letterkenny man was on the attack in the Tour de Suisse today and threatened to take the yellow jersey from Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-Quickstep).

Indeed, but for the willingness of world time trial champion and stage 1 TT winner Martin to hit the front of the bunch in the last 5km today to close down the break, the Irishman may have taken the overall lead from him.

As it stands, Deignan was second on the stage and has now moved from 25th to 7th overall. The result follows an excellent Giro d'Italia where he was very active in the mountains and took 3rd and 4th on stages.

His ride in yesterday's opening time trial in Switzerland signalled he has recovered well from the Giro, which has clearly improved his condition.

Deignan arrived at the finish today into Sarnen after 182km in the company of Cameron Meyer (Orica-GreenEdge) and Lawrence Warbasse (BMC); with the trio proving strongest of a six-man breakaway that went clear after just 15km.

The breakaway climbs the penultimate ascent, now down to five riders from the original six that got away after 15km.

In cold and wet conditions, they tackled the lumpy parcours featuring five categorised climbs, and built a lead on the peloton that stretched to almost 5:30 at one point.

Originally with the trio that eventually fought out the stage win were Reto Hollenstein (IAM Cycling), Frederik Veuchelen (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) and Bjorn Thurau (Europcar).

Approaching the final climb of the day, the Brünigpass some 30km from the finish, the racing for the stage win started in earnest in the escape, with Warbasse the first to make his move. Deignan covered him with apparent ease and looked like the strongest climber in the move.

That duo pulled clear and while some of the escapees had fallen away before the final climb was even reached - Veuchelen’s the first challenge to fade - Meyer only barely lost his place up front and closely trailed the two leaders over the top of the final climb.

He charged down the other side, catching the two leaders to make it three out front.

Deignan had begun the day 42 seconds off the yellow jersey of Martin and as the best placed of the three leaders he was virtual yellow jersey on the road.

But while the breakaway continued to work well, there was plenty of activity off the front of the bunch. It reduced in number on the final ascent to no more than 25 to 30 riders, though a significant regrouping would take place.

The original six getting organised early in the stage and looking like they were intent on making it all the way.

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Early in the day it had been the Garmin-Sharp team of third placed overall Rohan Dennis that did much of the work in trying to control the escape’s advantage.

But in the latter stages when the escape was still well clear, attacks from the likes of Laurent Ten Dam (Belkin), Roman Kreuziger (Tinkoff-Saxo) and Thibaut Pinot (FDJ.fr) all dragged the bunch closer to the escapees.

Inside the last 4km, when the escape was still over one minute clear and Martin’s lead looked at risk to Deignan, he found himself with no team mates. Cannondale were at the front trying to bring the break back to set up Peter Sagan for a stage win.

But they were clearly not making huge inroads into the leaders’ gap and so yellow jersey Martin hit the front of the bunch. Immediately pushing the pace over 60kmph, he lined out the race and the gap to the leaders began to tumble.

The German’s advances were aided by the fact the three up front began riding more conservatively to have a little left in the tank to try and win the stage.

The conditions during parts of the stage were pretty tough, with the riders facing mist, rain and the cold, though it was better later.

In the end it was Warbasse who led out the sprint, with Meyer reacting immediately.

And while Deignan got onto the Australian’s wheel, he was not strong enough to get past and had to settle for second place, shaking his head in frustration as he finished.

Just 14 seconds would elapse before Sagan led in Deignan’s team mate Ben Swift for 4th place at the head of the bunch; with race leader. Martin’s injection of pace clearly having been instrumental in reducing the gap to the leaders by so much.

Martin (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) holds his lead with Deignan just 27 seconds back in 7th. The Irishman is also 5th in the points classification and 4th in the climbers’ competition.

Given the position he is now in, the form he is enjoying and the climbs still to come, it will be interesting to see if he gets a chance as protected rider or if Team Sky will stick with their joint leaders of Sergio Henao and Bradley Wiggins.

June 14th to 22nd: Tour de Suisse

Sunday, June 15th: Stage 2, Bellinzona - Sarnen 182km

General Classification