Tour de Suisse 2024 – Analysing the contenders
Tour de Suisse 2024: Adam Yates extends lead with dominant stage 5 summit finish win
Race Notes
- Stage shortened to 42.5km from 151.1km due to snowpack, due to start at 15:00 CEST from Ulrichen
- Stefan Bissegger (EF Education-EasyPost), Anders Foldager (Jayco AlUla) and Frank van den Broek (DSM-Firmenich PostNL) form break of the day after Alexis Renard (Cofidis) dropped out of the move
- UAE Team Emirates controlled for most of the day until Adam Yates attacked away inside the final 4km
- With Mattias Skjelmose chasing on, João Almeida sat in his draft with Egan Bernal until bridging to Yates in the final kilometre
- Almeida dropped Yates on the final drag to the line to take his first win of the year, closing the gap to his teammate on GC in the process
Hello and welcome to Cyclingnews live coverage of stage 6 of the Tour de Suisse!
We're just under an hour from the start of stage 6 but if you're wondering why it's so late, stage 6's route had to be altered due to snow. The original 151.1km had to be significantly cut down ahead of the race because snow-clearing crews were not able to guarantee a safe crossing of the Furka and Nufenen passes.
Full story: 2024 Tour de Suisse queen stage shortened due to snowpack
Big feeding schedule on the Lotto Dstny rider's stems today...
🇨🇭 #TDSLoad schedule for an ultra short stage @tds 😅 pic.twitter.com/cPeJHV2bKwJune 14, 2024
While we won't get the queen stage that was proposed, there should be an explosive hour of racing on stage 6, with the whole bunch arriving fresh at the foot of the final and only climb of the day up to Blatten-Belalp.
Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates) is leading the Tour de Suisse after two big GC days and his stage win yesterday.
His nearest competitor for the overall is teammate Joao Almeida, who had a monster day on stage 5 as he rode most of the final climb for Yates before he attacked, then caught his breath and overtook everyone to confirm a UAE 1-2 on the day and overall.
Under 15 minutes from the start in Ulrichen now.
For many riders this will be a completely odd stage with such a short distance, here's how current best young rider and 5th overall Matthew Riccitello saw it:
"It's hard to say, I've never done a stage really like this. Only 40k so we'll see. I just think it will be really fast all day and really fast up the lat climb," he told CyclingProNet before the start.
"Between the DS and all the riders, there's a lot of experience on our team so just stay around them and start the climb having spent as little energy as possible. Right now I'm in fifth so if I can stay here or improve then it will be a good race."
Stage start
Stage 6 of the Tour de Suisse is underway! We'll be heading southwest down the valley road from Ulrichen with some descending roads at the start. All out, explosive racing incoming...
42.5KM TO GO
They've not rode too much neutral, thankfully, with only 42.5km on the menu and we are officially racing! Stage 6 of the Tour de Suisse is a go, with around an hour of racing set to decide the day.
It's a mass sprint right from the flag, with so many riders interested.
Cofidis, EF, DSM and Jayco so far making the best impression off the front.
Frank van den Broek (DSM-Firmenich PostNL) Stefan Bissegger (EF Education-EasyPost), Alexis Renard (Cofidis) and Anders Foldager (Jayco AlUla) are the original quartet who have managed to pull away.
40KM TO GO
Two non-starters on stage 6: Pascal Eenkhoorn (Lotto Dstny) and Georg Steinhauser (EF Education-EasyPost).
Renard has dropped from the break, perhaps aware a four-man group likely won't be big enough to make it. Bissegger, Van den Broek and Foldager lead for now but with Arkéa-B&B Hotels trying to bridge across with two riders.
With some big downhill sections, speeds are up close to 90kph. 12 seconds gap to the three leaders.
It's Kevin Vauqeulin for Arkéa who has left his teammate behind and is now trying to bridge across. He has a Corratec Vini Fantini rider and Astana Qazaqstan man for help in his chase.
The gap to the lead riders has gone out to 47 seconds. The trio in front is still Bissegger, Van den Broek and Foldager.
UAE Team Emirates are on the front as controllers of the yellow jersey. The chasing trio haven't made much of an impression on the leaders and look like they will be reeled back soon.
Correction, it was Garcia Pierna in the chase for Arkea, however, that doesn't matter with him, Cees Bol and Ayco Bastiens all back in the bunch now.
30KM TO GO
Gap to the trio in front is no at 1:00 with the Swiss national team and Corratec both close to the front of the peloton alongside UAE.
Some stunning terrain on today's stage. But with speeds up past 80kph, I doubt the riders will have seen many of the views along valley road they are flying down.
We're approaching the halfway point of the stage which is rather comical to type so quickly. Gap is at 55 seconds.
UAE Team Emirates are pulling a very high pace on the front of the peloton.
20KM TO GO
Matthew Riccitello is working his way back to the peloton with teammates. It looks as though he had a problem, however, it wasn't caught on the broadcast.
Here's the breakaway on stage 6, led by Van den Broek with Foldager and Bissegger swapping turns in the move. They have just passed the intermediate sprint point with a lead of 1:07 on the UAE-led peloton.
We're into a downhill section now and the speeds are up. Not far to go until we start climbing on this very odd stage.
Peloton is completely stretched out on this long and thankfully not too technical portion of descending. Average speed is 58kph for the day so far.
Gap is out to 1:12 with 7km until the foot of the final climb up to Blatten.
Bissegger is showing his TT prowess in the breakaway, riding in his full aerodynamic setup and completing massive turns on the front.
10KM TO GO
Still UAE leading the way in the peloton with the final climb approaching.
The break has gone through the town of Naters and turned right onto the lower slopes which lead into the final climb. It's a tough drag right to the line but with such fresh legs, we should see some stunning climbing speeds.
Ineos Grenadiers have taken over the pacing on the front and are clearly fancying the day with one of Tom Pidcock or Egan Bernal.
Almost half of the peloton have now pulled the plug as soon as the race hit the foot of the climb. Lots of riders now knocking off their effort knowing it isn't a day for them.
Bissegger and Van Den Broek have left Foldager after an all out day in the break. The duo in front have 1:00 of an advantage still.
5KM TO GO
UAE are back leading the charge in the peloton from Ineos.
Bissegger has attacked away from Van den Broek after looking the clear strongest in the breakaway. He's set off in pursuit of glory with 5km to go and a 55-second lead.
Yates has marshalled the troops and UAE are setting a very tough pace now through Jan Christen. The yellow jersey is sat third in the train with Almeida actually behind him now.
Bissegger was actually just confirming the Tissot watch win at the sponsored kilometre, with Van den Broek now making more of an attack away from the Swiss man after he confirmed a spot on the day's podium.
Yates looks incredibly smooth in his effort for now.
Yates is down to just two teammates now with Del Toro setting the pace and reducing Van den Broek's lead to just 25 seconds now.
UAE are shredding this front group even on such a short effort. 4km to go to the top and there are only a handful of riders still in the GC group.
Van den Broek's lead is melting away as the Emirati team shred the climb to Blatten. Now under 10 seconds and his day will soon be over.
Attack
With Del Toro done, Adam Yates attacks! Almeida once again lets the wheel go and settles into Skjelmose's draft to stay fresh for the end of the stage.
Van den Broek is overtaken as Yates flys by him. Skjelmose is leading the chase with Almeida the closest to him and Bernal also there. Everyone else unable to follow.
3KM TO GO
Skjelmose is bringing back Yates now and looks much better than yesterday. If the Danish champion brings back the Brit, expect Almeida to try his own move.
Riccitello, Pidcock, Gall and Lenny Martinez are all in the next chasing group behind the Skjelmose group on the road.
Yates is still pushing on in front with Skjelmose not quite bridging the gap for now but his tempo still looks strong.
Yates is in the big chainring again as he monsters his way up this steep climb. Still Almeida sits in waiting with Skjelmose and Bernal in a group 7 seconds down from Yates.
Just as I typed, Bernal was unhappy with the pace and launches his own move to try and catch Yates.
Bernal is making a good impression on Yates' gap with the top of the climb approaching. It will level out towards the top. Almeida has taken over from Skjelmose with Bernal making inroads on Yates' lead.
Bernal has been caught by Almeida and Skjelmose, with the Portuguese man attacking the duo!
1KM TO GO
Almeida has caught Yates and taken over on the front. It's a UAE Team Emirates tandem now leading stage 6 of the Tour de Suisse.
Almeida making contact has put Bernal and Skjelmose on the back foot again. Yates has taken over and started pulling on the front with the teammates again showing themselves as the strongest two riders at this race.
Coming into the barriers section now with the UAE duo working well together ahead of those chasing. Will Yates allow his teammate the win?
It looks as though there are no gifts at all with Almeida powering away to the win now! Yates is gapped even in the finale.
Stage Finish
João Almeida wins stage 6 of the Tour de Suisse! He celebrates over the line with Yates following suit just behind him in yellow.
It's another top day for UAE Team Emirates with Skjelmose taking third and Bernal fourth close behind.
It's only small gaps over the top but it was another very successful day for the Emirati team who have dominated the GC action so far at this year's Tour de Suisse. Almeida has reduced the gap between him and Yates for 1-2 on GC having gained eight seconds thanks to his four-second lead over the line and four second bonus second advantage earned for the win.
UAE Team Emirates is looking in very good stead with the Tour de France approaching later this month. Both Almeida and Yates will form part of their super team formed to support Tadej Pogačar in France as looks to complete a historic Giro-Tour double.
Here's the moment João Almeida crossed the line to take victory at the Tour de Suisse, his first of the 2024 season, with teammate Adam Yates in the background. Yates leads the GC from his teammate by 27 seconds heading into the finale weekend.
Here's what Almeida had to say after his powerful solo win, squashing any talk of infighting between him and Yates in the coming days:
"I think we [him and Yates] were both really strong, it was quite good. He [Yates] attacked quite far from the finish and I was just on the wheel of Skjelmose so it was perfect for me. In the end, I could catch him back without bringing the other riders and we just arrived and I'm really happy with this victory," said Almeida in his flash interview.
"I think it's positive as long as we do first and second it doesn't matter who. I think we are both happy. As long as we do good teamwork and respect each other as we always do then that's the main thing. At the end of the day, the team wins anyway so we just need to keep our focus these next two days and hopefully we can make it."
The pair have worked quite brilliantly so far at the Tour de Suisse, taking home 1-2 finishes on the past two stages and holding first and second overall heading into the final weekend. But it was refreshing to hear Almeida give no illusions to the fact he himself wanted to win.
"Of course I want to win all the time," he said. "But I would also respect my teammates as well so I'm happy for him also."
The GC standings after stage 6 of the Tour de Suisse, powered by FirstCycling. Strong work from Skjelmose to get back into the top five but the UAE duo are clearly in a different league at this race with over a minute lead on the next best rider Bernal.
Make sure to check out Cyclingnews' full stage report and growing gallery of a bizarre day's action at the Tour de Suisse:
Tour de Suisse stage 6: João Almeida wins dramatically weather-shortened mountain stage
Here's a look at the profile of the penultimate stage of the Tour de Suisse, with 118.2km route providing the finale change for the GC riders to make up time on the climbs before the stage 8 ITT on Sunday.
Racing will start and finish in Villars-sur-Ollon, close to the UCI headquarters in Aigle, which will be the start location of the finale stage.
That wraps things up for our live coverage of stage 6 at the Tour de Suisse. Check back tomorrow for our live coverage of stage 7 alongside race reports, news and features from the cycling world.
