Xandro Meurisse (Pinarello-Q36.5) endured the storms and torrential downpour of a tough day out front at the Tour de Suisse on stage 3, as well as the charged pursuit of the bunch breathing down their neck on the run to the line, but there was one last force of nature he could not overcome and that was Jhonatan Narváez (UAE Team Emirates-XRG).
The two had endured out front for more than 100km, working together seamlessly to hold off a field containing sprinters teams who could see a rare opportunity for a bunch battle on the road to Bad Ragaz. As the pair went under the 1km to go banner, Meurisse stuck on the front as Narváez had decided he was no longer coming through, there was little time to linger as being swamped and losing out on not just a chance to win but also any hope of a podium spot was at risk.
Narváez held his nerve to inside 200m to go, but once he launched there was little Meurisse could do to counter the sprint of the rider who was fresh from three Giro d'Italia victories. Still, it was a strong second for Meurisse as he held off the sprint from behind, closing so quickly that third-placed Magnus Cort (Uno-X Mobility) and the rest of the bunch had the same time on the results as the leading duo.
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"It’s a bit of a double feeling," Meurisse said in a team statement after claiming the runner-up spot. "Of course I’m still looking for that first WorldTour victory and today it was close. But it’s not a shame to lose against a rider like Narváez. We both deserved our chance after the work we did together."
"I need to be disappointed but I also need to be happy," he added in an interview with CyclingProNet.
The pair had taken off from a larger break group on a descent, Narváez capitalising on the three weeks of racing in his legs from the Giro d'Italia while Meurisse had just returned from altitude for the Tour de Suisse.
"We were quite fast with two. This guy is so aero that I can't even recover in the wheel," joked Meurisse in the interview with CyclingProNet.
While the result may not have been that sought after first top-level victory, a first podium of the year for the 34-year-old and a second runner-up spot at the race for the team – with Marcel Camprubí on the podium on stage 2 – was still a boost.
"I had a really good feeling on the climbs. It’s only my third race day after five and a half weeks without racing, so I’m still looking for my best shape," said Meurisse in the team release. "But I think we’re on the right path and can only improve over the coming weeks."
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