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Whats up and welcome to Cyclingnews’ stay protection of stage 8 of the Tour de Suisse!
The ultimate stage of the 2024 Tour de Suisse has a brutally robust 15.7km mountain ITT as much as Villars-sur-Ollon on the menu, with the GC win set to be determined.
Adam Yates is the present race chief however he shall be defending his lead towards teammate João Almeida, who has been on equally flying type to the Brit.
The primary rider off the beginning ramp shall be Elia Blum (Swiss Biking), who is because of get stepping into slightly below 20 minutes at 13:46 CEST.
The route for at this time’s stage has already had some motion on it with stage 2 of the ladies’s Tour de Suisse additionally taking within the 15.7km course:
It is also one yr since Gino Mäder tragically misplaced his life on the Tour de Suisse. An vital day to recollect the nice individual and nice rider he was. Might he relaxation in peace.
A beautiful video on Gino from the Tour de Suisse.
5 minutes from the beginning of the ultimate stage.
Stage Begin
Riders shall be beginning an one minute intervals from Aigle, dwelling to the headquarters of biking’s governing physique – the UCI.
Not too long ago knighted Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan) has began, learn all about him changing into a sir beneath:
There are two intermediate time checkpoints alongside the 15.7km route:
Cavendish has set the quickest time on the first checkpoint with a 6:16, forward of Christoph Janssen (Swiss Biking) and Alexis Renard (Cofidis).
Here is a preview of a number of the beautiful views that shall be taken in on at this time’s stage, as confirmed in the course of the girls’s race earlier at this time.
Here is a number of the key begin instances to look out for at this time between the perfect TT riders and GC riders who shall be seeking to transfer up or safe their positions total within the TT:
Just some kilometres till the opening few riders make it to the end line in Villars-sur-Ollon and set the benchmark for the stage.
Regardless of Yates getting the win yesterday, he was fairly positive that Almeida can be the person going into the race lead on at this time’s stage.
Sam Watson (Groupama-FDJ) has overtaken Cavendish’s earlier greatest time at T1 with a 6:13.
With simply over 100 riders left to start out, Cees Bol (Astana Qazaqstan) has set the perfect time on the second checkpoint with a 29:16 and the primary few riders are near ending the stage now.
The day’s first starter Blum has no completed in a time of 39:05 however clearly, with a lot expertise to come back, we will count on a lot quicker instances than that after the favourites get underway.
Former U23 ITT World Champion Johan Value-Pejtersen has set a brand new quickest time on the 12.5km intermediate time test: 29:12.
Just a few very sturdy TT riders at the moment are underway in Yves Lampaert (Fast-Step) and Stefan Bissegger (EF). They’re extra pure TT riders suited to a flatter effort, so the climb won’t be of their favour.
One other take a look at the beautiful views round Aigle in Switzerland as Cavendish completes his TT. He is been on the Tour de Suisse coaching and getting some climbing within the legs forward of his closing Tour de France.
Bissegger has overtaken Kim Heiduk for the quickest time at T1 however that is nearly the place the course begins to exit of his favour.
There’s additionally a brand new greatest time at T2 for Oscar Riesebeek and on the end for Cees Bol. However every timecheck is rapidly seeing new bests being set with the strongest riders nonetheless to come back.
Luca Jenni (Swiss Biking) takes over the lead on the end with a 38:28.
Belgians have taken over at T1, Stan Dewulf and Cedrid Beullens at the moment are 1-2 within the timings.
Oscar Riesebeek (Alpecin-Deceuninck) has set a brand new benchmark on the end line and overtaken the following greatest by over a minute.
Bissegger exhibiting off the Swiss nationwide champion’s colors fantastically on stage 8.
Riesebeek has been outdone by Simone Velasco (Astana Qazaqstan) by over 30 seconds with a brand new greatest time of 36:22 on the end.
Nonetheless over 70 riders to take the beginning in Aigle.
Vital to notice that Bissegger is the one rider I’ve seen as of but truly driving a TT bike, with most riders choosing their street bike because of the problem of the climb. Stefan Küng is about to start out and he additionally seems like he’ll be driving his TT bike no less than for the beginning a part of the stage.
Simply as Küng will get underway and flies off the beginning ramp, Felix Engelhardt (Jayco AlUla) has set the brand new quickest time on the end with a 36:01.
Bike change for Lutsenko who was 17 seconds down on the first time test. He is now onto the street bike for the toughest a part of the climb.
Here is stage chief Felix Engelhardt throughout his effort.
Stephen Williams (Israel-Premier Tech) takes over the new seat regardless of his nonchalant crossing of the road. New greatest time to beat of 35:57.
High ITT rider Ethan Hayter (Ineos Grenadiers) has received his effort underway.
Hayter has set a brand new greatest time at T1 with 5:38, 10 seconds quicker than the earlier greatest set by Beullens.
The benchmark retains altering! Damiano Caruso (Bahrain-Victorious) has flown up the climb and smashed Stevie Williams’ time by 41 seconds with a 35:16.
Make sure that to meet up with all the opposite outcomes on a busy day of racing. Here is what occurred within the closing stage of the Tour of Slovenia:
Here is curret stage chief Damiano Caruso navigating the beautiful course in and round Aigle.
Beneath 30 riders left to start out with the GC favourites about to come back thick and quick within the subsequent half an hour.
Marc Hirschi simply confirmed in his post-effort interview that Yates and Almeida will each begin on TT bikes for the opening few flat kilometres, earlier than altering onto to street bikes for the toughest a part of the climb.
Ultimate 20 riders left to start out incoming.
We’re getting a preview of how the bike modifications may go for the leaders, with Jan Christen and UAE Staff Emirates getting it very unsuitable. The Swiss rider was pressured to attend simply standing nonetheless for no less than 7 seconds as he waited for his street bike. They’re going to need to have that timing sorted for Almeida and Yates.
Present standings at every time test:
James Shaw (EF Schooling-EasyPost) has gone via T2 with a pleasant time, simply 12 seconds off that set by Caruso with 3.2km to go till he reaches the end.
Raul Garcia Pierna (Arké-B&B Lodges) has come via the end line in second with a 35:40 however he’s rapidly overwhelmed by teammate Kevin Vauquelin in a 35:30.
We’re into the highest 10 on GC taking the beginning now as Kelderman, Gall, Onley and Pidcock all make their manner from the beginning ramp.
Lenny Martinez has completely flown up the climb to Villars-sur-Ollon and units a blistering new greatest time of 34:19! It hasn’t been his greatest week however he is confirmed simply what he is fabricated from on stage 8. That will have been the profitable effort, chapeau.
Here is Martinez throughout his beautiful ITT effort. How shut will his time be to that of Yates and Almeida?
Riccitello and Skjelmose have now began with solely the rostrum sitters Bernal, Almeida and Yates to come back.
Yates and Almeida are simply ending the final components of their heat up earlier than getting underway and battling out the general GC win.
Bernal is underway and simply the UAE Staff Emirates duo stays.
Right here comes João Almeida. He is the large favorite for the stage however can he take again the 31 seconds on his teammate to take total victory!
The most recent few finishers have not received close to sufficient to Martinez to problem him with the Frenchman’s blistering time up the ultimate climb solely wanting threatened by the greatest GC riders who’ve simply began.
All riders underway
Vital to notice that many of the GC favourites have began on a TT bike so the bike modifications may grow to be essential if the time gaps are slender.
The Lidl-Trek mechanic was hanging out of an open door as he ready to get Skjelmose’s bike off the roof. Unsure how secure or authorized that was significantly, so count on a superb for them after the day.
Almeida and Bernal have gone via T1 across the 6:00 mark however the variations will all be made on the ultimate climb.
Yates was seven seconds down on Almeida and 9 on Bernal at T1. Work to be finished on the ultimate climb for the race chief.
Martinez maintains the lead regardless of a powerful effort by David De La Cruz (Q36.5) after the Spanish rider overtook him for the perfect time at T2.
Bike change for Yates now and it’s a lot smoother than that of Christen earlier within the day with UAE studying their lesson.
Heaps to be revealed when the GC favourites and extra importantly, the UAE duo, come via the second intermediate time test.
Tom Pidcock goes brilliantly decrease down on the climb and he is set the perfect time on the second intermediate time test with a 25:44. He is some 18 seconds forward of the place Martinez was however he has work to do if he’s to take the stage win.
Tom Pidcock in full flight on the Tour de Suisse.
Almeida seems sturdy in his effort and he is grinding away up this climb in his typical fashion.
Matthew Riccitello (Israel-Premier Tech) is constant to impress and he is set a good time on the second time test – 25:35. He’ll need to overtake Skjelmose and are available fourth total alongside taking the white jersey, however final yr’s Tour de Suisse winner is not any mug in a ITT.
Skjelmose responds brilliantly on this ITT and units a brand new greatest time at T2 with a 25:26, 9 seconds forward of the younger American in an excellent battle for the white jersey.
Simply Bernal, Almeida and Yates left to come back via the second time test. We do not have a stay clock on the pair so nothing shall be revealed till they attain that timing level on the 12.5km mark.
Pidcock takes the lead from Martinez with a 34:14 however these behind him are closing rapidly! How lengthy will he be within the sizzling seat?
Bernal has come via T2 and it isn’t nice. He is 33 seconds off the tempo of Skjelmose however began the day 59 seconds forward of him on GC so he has some room to slide.
Almeida is closing in on T2 and the clock was inexperienced. However he would not fairly make it, clocking in a 25:29, 4 seconds slower than Skjelmose. However you may guarantee he may have one thing left for the finale.
Yates seems like he’s going higher than even he anticipated as he approaches the second time test. How shut will he be to Almeida? Very is the reply and he is truly forward of his teammate. He is solely 4 tenths of second down on Skjelmose and three seconds in entrance of Almeida.
Riccitello rounds off a superb week and strikes into the lead of the stage with a 34:01. Good end result it doesn’t matter what occurs, even when Skjelmose beats him for the stage victory. Implausible experience by the 22-year-old and what an unlimited expertise he’s.
Skjelmose is closing in on the end line and he is giving completely all the things. The clock is inexperienced however he has 350 metres to go.
Skjelmose takes the lead and he is the primary to interrupt the 34-minute mark. New main time of 33:44 for the Dane on the line. However will or not it’s sufficient to beat Yates and Almeida?
Bernal has 1km to go to complete off a powerful week for him and he may affirm third total if he’s fast sufficient. Each race is a continued step up for the Colombian.
Almeida is burying himself in pursuit of the stage win with the contrasting kinds between him and Yates so obvious. The Portuguese rider is bobbing round and pushing the ability down within the saddle whereas Yates turns a giant gear and dances on the pedals out of the saddle.
Bernal is on the end line now and he is misplaced 1:07 to the Dane. Almeida not far behind.
He wasn’t forward at T2 however Almeida has flown up the ultimate 3.2km of the hassle. What an effort from the Portuguese rider and it is a new better of 33:23, some 20 seconds quicker than Skjelmose. However is it sufficient for the title?
Yates must beat a 33:54 however he is entered the ultimate kilometre with the clock within the inexperienced and it seems as if the yellow jersey is secure. However he may additionally take the stage win.
200 metres to go for Yates and the clock will go learn for the stage win. However he’s going to be the champion.
Stage End
Here is the winner João Almeida (UAE Staff Emirates) making his manner up the end. One other beautiful efficiency from him to win UAE’s fourth stage in a row and their fourth 1-2 in a row with him and Yates having two every.
Here is the highest 10 on stage 8 of the Tour de Suisse with UAE Staff Emirates persevering with to dominate. Chapeau additionally to Riccitello, Pidcock and Martinez who put in nice rides and held the lead of the stage in some unspecified time in the future. But in addition Skjelmose who moved himself onto the rostrum forward of Bernal with an assault of the climb.
Here is what João Almeida needed to say after profitable his second stage of the week and shutting out a dominant win for UAE Staff Emirates:
Here is a take a look at the ultimate GC courtesy of FirstCycling, with Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) the largest mover on GC at this time. He leapfrogged Egan Bernal for third after a powerful 15.7km ITT that noticed him additionally take third on the stage.
Here is what total winner Adam Yates needed to say after the stage:
2024 Tour de Suisse winner Adam Yates (UAE Staff Emirates) with the very giant trophy.
Make sure that to learn our full stage report and take a look at our gallery from a shocking stage in Switzerland:
That wraps issues up for Cyclingnews‘ stay protection of the boys’s Tour de Suisse however ensure to meet up with the ladies’s race in Switzerland with two levels nonetheless to come back in that race.
