Andreas Leknessund (DSM) won the second stage of the Tour de Suisse on Monday, following a 199 kilometer course between Küsnacht et Aesch. The Norwegian won alone following making the difference in the last climb of the day. At 23, he achieved his first success in the World Tour. Victorious on the 1st stage on Sunday, Stephen Williams (Bahrain Victorious) conserve son maillot de leader.
On the runners’ menu this Monday, three listed climbs including the Challpass (6.3 km at 6.3%) at the end of the race, which should hurt the bodies.
Quickly, ten riders form the breakaway of the day including six Swiss who hope to shine on their land. Claudia Imhof (Swiss Cycling) is the first to get up, followed by Leonardo Basso (Astana) and Simon Vitzthum (Swiss Cycling) who fail to keep up with the pace imposed at the head of the race.
At 40 kilometers from the finish, they are only 6 at the front following the loss of speed of Joel Suter (UAE Team Emirates).
At the foot of the last ascent of the day, Mathieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies) places a fatal attack at Matteo Badilatti (Groupama-FDJ) which is forced to abdicate. A few hundred meters later, it’s the turn ofAndreas Leknessund (DSM) to speed up. The 23-year-old Norwegian quickly isolates himself at the head of the race and seems to have done the hardest part. Very solid on the climb, he crossed the summit of the Challpass 45 seconds ahead of his first pursuer, Jonas slip (EF Education EasyPost). The DSM team rider perfectly manages the long descent to the finish line to win his 3rd victory among the pros, the first in the World Tour.
The peloton, too far from the Norwegian, is fighting for the podium in the sprint and in this little game, it’s Alberto Bettiol (EF Education-EasyPost) which is the strongest, ahead of Michael Matthews (BikeExchange). The Italian rider also offered himself, in addition to 2nd place, a beautiful moment of solitude by raising his arms to the sky, convinced of having won the race. Too bad for him, Leknessund had already crossed the finish line for 38 seconds…
