Tour de Suisse: Sagan wins stage 3
World champion sneaks into late breakaway to take race lead
Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) took his second straight victory at the Tour de Suisse with a commanding sprint in a rain-soaked Rehinfelden. Michael Albasini (Orica-GreenEdge) came a close second with Silvan Dillier (BMC) taking third after the three held off the peloton by a mere three seconds.
It proved a vital three seconds for Sagan, who now sits at the top of the standings with a three-second advantage over Jurgen Roelandts (Lotto-Soudal), who had started the day in the leader’s jersey.
Having helped with the chase for most of the day, Sagan was left with no teammates as the stage reached its conclusion. With Dillier having made it away in the day’s break and a stinging attack from Albasini on the penultimate ascent, Sagan had to take matters into his own hands. The world champion initially took up the chase on the front of a diminishing peloton before launching his move near the top of final ascent of the day.
As Roelandts found himself off the back of the bunch, Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEdge) set off in chase of Sagan. The Australian didn’t have the legs, and once they were on the descent he didn’t stand a chance. Sagan utilised his famous bike handling skills to make mincemeat of the gap between himself and the pair out front.
Behind, the peloton weren’t relenting and Lotto-Soudal, having brought Roelandts back to the main group, began reeling in the three escapees. The three had a maximum advantage of just over 30 seconds but that was reduced to little more than a handful inside the final 10 kilometres. Feeling the peloton on his back, Sagan decided to try another attack with five kilometres to the line. He distanced his Swiss friends initially but realised quickly that he wasn’t going to shake them too easily.
Sagan was brought back and the three worked together as the peloton became tantalisingly close. Albasini was the first to show his cards inside the final kilometre but when Sagan wound up his own sprint, the Orica man had no answer. Sagan stormed to his second win of the 2016 race and his 13th in the race’s history, jumping to the top of the overall standings as well.
Dillier was another big mover in the overall classification and, after mopping up bonus seconds during the stage and at the finish, he climbed to third overall, equal on time with Roelandts.
How it happened
Cloudy conditions greeted the riders at the start in Grosswangen with Jurgen Roelandts (Lotto-Soudal) in the yellow of race leader after taking three seconds on Fabian Cancellara (Trek-Segafredo) in Sunday’s finale. What lay ahead for the peloton was 192.6km of rolling terrain with six classified climbs before the finish in Rheinfelden.
There were attacks from the off but it took some time before a move finally stuck. Swiss rider Silvan Dillier (BMC) was the first to snap the elastic after 14km. He eventually had some company in the form of Sven Erik Byström (Katusha), Gregory Rast (Trek-Segafredo), Matthew Hayman (Orica-GreenEdge), Branislau Samoilau (CCC Sprandi Polkowice), Bruno Pires (Team Roth), Antwan Tolhoek and Hub Duijn (Roompot Oranje Peloton).
With 20 kilometres ridden, the eight out front had an advantage of 1:30 and that was over five minutes by the time they hit the 50km mark. As the rain began to fall on the riders, the team of the leader, Lotto-Soudal, managed the pace of the peloton with the help of Peter Sagan’s Tinkoff team. After starting the day just 13 seconds down on Roelandts, Dillier went on the hunt for bonus seconds, winning three at the first intermediate sprint.
Orica-GreenEdge had obviously gone into the stage with an aggressive strategy and after trying but failing to make it into the break earlier in the day, Amets Txurruka had another go with less than 50km to go. However, he found himself in no-man’s land for a while before eventually being reeled in by the peloton.
The relentless up and down of the finale fractured the bunch into smaller groups and the leading group weren’t immune to it either. With 20 kilometres to go, there was only four of the initial escape group remaining. Their advantage was slim, however, and the peloton were closing quickly. Sensing the opportunity for a stage win, Albasini had Chris Juul-Jensen bring him to the front of the peloton with 18km remaining. The Swiss rider quickly made the juncture on the penultimate ascent of the day, with the help of Hayman who then fell back to the peloton with his job for the day complete.
The rest of the peloton bided their time, with Sagan picking his moment seven kilometres later near the top of the final ascent. Using his abilities on the downhill, it didn’t take him long to bridge the 30-second gap to Albasini and Dillier. Albasini’s teammate Matthews attempted to go with the world champion but found himself lacking and had to resign himself to being pulled along in the peloton.
With Lotto Soudal back at the helm, it looked like it just might come back together and Sagan’s efforts would come to naught. However, by the skin of their teeth, the trio held them off. Albasini made his move first but Sagan eased around him to take his sixth victory this season.
Full Results
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff Team | 4:31:17 |
2 | Michael Albasini (Swi) Orica-GreenEdge | Row 1 - Cell 2 |
3 | Silvan Dillier (Swi) BMC Racing Team | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
4 | Maximiliano Richeze (Arg) Etixx - Quick-Step | 0:00:03 |
5 | Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Soudal | Row 4 - Cell 2 |
6 | Jhonatan Restrepo (Col) Team Katusha | Row 5 - Cell 2 |
7 | Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge | Row 6 - Cell 2 |
8 | Rui Costa (Por) Lampre - Merida | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
9 | Simon Geschke (Ger) Team Giant-Alpecin | Row 8 - Cell 2 |
10 | Christopher Juul Jensen (Den) Orica-GreenEdge | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
11 | Jarlinson Pantano (Col) IAM Cycling | Row 10 - Cell 2 |
12 | Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing Team | Row 11 - Cell 2 |
13 | Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky | Row 12 - Cell 2 |
14 | Michal Golas (Pol) Team Sky | Row 13 - Cell 2 |
15 | Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo | Row 14 - Cell 2 |
16 | Pierre-Roger Latour (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 15 - Cell 2 |
17 | Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Giant-Alpecin | Row 16 - Cell 2 |
18 | Jon Izaguirre (Spa) Movistar Team | Row 17 - Cell 2 |
19 | Mathias Frank (Swi) IAM Cycling | Row 18 - Cell 2 |
20 | Gorka Izaguirre (Spa) Movistar Team | Row 19 - Cell 2 |
21 | Simon Spilak (Slo) Team Katusha | Row 20 - Cell 2 |
22 | Sergei Chernetski (Rus) Team Katusha | Row 21 - Cell 2 |
23 | Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team | Row 22 - Cell 2 |
24 | Andrew Talansky (USA) Cannondale Pro Cycling | Row 23 - Cell 2 |
25 | Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Lotto Soudal | Row 24 - Cell 2 |
26 | Sam Oomen (Ned) Team Giant-Alpecin | Row 25 - Cell 2 |
27 | Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto Soudal | Row 26 - Cell 2 |
28 | Manuele Boaro (Ita) Tinkoff Team | Row 27 - Cell 2 |
29 | Tiago Machado (Por) Team Katusha | 0:00:17 |
30 | Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing Team | Row 29 - Cell 2 |
31 | Martin Elmiger (Swi) IAM Cycling | Row 30 - Cell 2 |
32 | Jasha Sütterlin (Ger) Movistar Team | Row 31 - Cell 2 |
33 | Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana Pro Team | Row 32 - Cell 2 |
34 | Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Team Sky | Row 33 - Cell 2 |
35 | Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing Team | Row 34 - Cell 2 |
36 | Michele Scarponi (Ita) Astana Pro Team | Row 35 - Cell 2 |
37 | Kenny Elissonde (Fra) FDJ | Row 36 - Cell 2 |
38 | Sven Erik Bystrøm (Nor) Team Katusha | Row 37 - Cell 2 |
39 | Huub Duijn (Ned) Roompot - Oranje Peloton | Row 38 - Cell 2 |
40 | Joe Dombrowski (USA) Cannondale Pro Cycling | Row 39 - Cell 2 |
41 | Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Lampre - Merida | Row 40 - Cell 2 |
42 | Cédric Pineau (Fra) FDJ | Row 41 - Cell 2 |
43 | Petr Vakoc (Cze) Etixx - Quick-Step | Row 42 - Cell 2 |
44 | Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Etixx - Quick-Step | Row 43 - Cell 2 |
45 | Luke Durbridge (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge | 0:01:23 |
46 | Mathew Hayman (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge | Row 45 - Cell 2 |
47 | Matti Breschel (Den) Cannondale Pro Cycling | Row 46 - Cell 2 |
48 | Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Trek-Segafredo | Row 47 - Cell 2 |
49 | Reto Hollenstein (Swi) IAM Cycling | Row 48 - Cell 2 |
50 | Bertjan Lindeman (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo | Row 49 - Cell 2 |
51 | Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) Dimension Data | Row 50 - Cell 2 |
52 | Andrea Pasqualon (Ita) Team Roth | Row 51 - Cell 2 |
53 | Pim Ligthart (Ned) Lotto Soudal | Row 52 - Cell 2 |
54 | Felix Grosschartner (Aut) CCC Sprandi Polkowice | Row 53 - Cell 2 |
55 | Bram Tankink (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo | Row 54 - Cell 2 |
56 | Sander Armee (Bel) Lotto Soudal | Row 55 - Cell 2 |
57 | Oscar Gatto (Ita) Tinkoff Team | Row 56 - Cell 2 |
58 | Jay McCarthy (Aus) Tinkoff Team | 0:02:23 |
59 | Tom Van Asbroeck (Bel) Team LottoNl-Jumbo | Row 58 - Cell 2 |
60 | Pawel Cieslik (Pol) Verva ActiveJet Pro Cycling Team | Row 59 - Cell 2 |
61 | Jordi Simon (Spa) Verva ActiveJet Pro Cycling Team | Row 60 - Cell 2 |
62 | Maciej Paterski (Pol) CCC Sprandi Polkowice | Row 61 - Cell 2 |
63 | Natnael Berhane (Eri) Dimension Data | Row 62 - Cell 2 |
64 | Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel) Lotto Soudal | Row 63 - Cell 2 |
65 | Darwin Atapuma (Col) BMC Racing Team | Row 64 - Cell 2 |
66 | Davide Malacarne (Ita) Astana Pro Team | Row 65 - Cell 2 |
67 | Ian Boswell (USA) Team Sky | Row 66 - Cell 2 |
68 | Paul Martens (Ger) Team LottoNl-Jumbo | Row 67 - Cell 2 |
69 | Antwan Tolhoek (Ned) Roompot - Oranje Peloton | Row 68 - Cell 2 |
70 | Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | 0:03:00 |
71 | Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 70 - Cell 2 |
72 | Sébastien Minard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 71 - Cell 2 |
73 | Laurent Pichon (Fra) FDJ | Row 72 - Cell 2 |
74 | Frank Schleck (Lux) Trek-Segafredo | Row 73 - Cell 2 |
75 | Winner Anacona (Col) Movistar Team | Row 74 - Cell 2 |
76 | Víctor De La Parte (Spa) CCC Sprandi Polkowice | Row 75 - Cell 2 |
77 | Sergey Lagutin (Rus) Team Katusha | Row 76 - Cell 2 |
78 | Matvey Mamykin (Rus) Team Katusha | Row 77 - Cell 2 |
79 | Karel Hnik (Cze) Verva ActiveJet Pro Cycling Team | Row 78 - Cell 2 |
80 | Odd Christian Eiking (Nor) FDJ | Row 79 - Cell 2 |
81 | Jérémy Maison (Fra) FDJ | Row 80 - Cell 2 |
82 | Dmitrii Kozonchuk (Rus) Team Katusha | Row 81 - Cell 2 |
83 | Dylan Teuns (Bel) BMC Racing Team | Row 82 - Cell 2 |
84 | Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Dimension Data | Row 83 - Cell 2 |
85 | Jonathan Castroviejo (Spa) Movistar Team | Row 84 - Cell 2 |
86 | Samuel Sanchez (Spa) BMC Racing Team | Row 85 - Cell 2 |
87 | Jan Polanc (Slo) Lampre - Merida | Row 86 - Cell 2 |
88 | Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Team Sky | Row 87 - Cell 2 |
89 | Kristijan Koren (Slo) Cannondale Pro Cycling | 0:05:07 |
90 | Davide Villella (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling | Row 89 - Cell 2 |
91 | Ivan Rovny (Rus) Tinkoff Team | Row 90 - Cell 2 |
92 | Juraj Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff Team | Row 91 - Cell 2 |
93 | Peter Stetina (USA) Trek-Segafredo | Row 92 - Cell 2 |
94 | Michal Podlaski (Pol) Verva ActiveJet Pro Cycling Team | Row 93 - Cell 2 |
95 | Oliver Zaugg (Swi) IAM Cycling | Row 94 - Cell 2 |
96 | Marcel Wyss (Swi) IAM Cycling | Row 95 - Cell 2 |
97 | Mario Costa (Por) Lampre - Merida | Row 96 - Cell 2 |
98 | Koen Bouwman (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo | Row 97 - Cell 2 |
99 | Ruben Zepuntke (Ger) Cannondale Pro Cycling | Row 98 - Cell 2 |
100 | Kristijan Durasek (Cro) Lampre - Merida | Row 99 - Cell 2 |
101 | Jonas Koch (Ger) Verva ActiveJet Pro Cycling Team | Row 100 - Cell 2 |
102 | Jiri Polnicky (Cze) Verva ActiveJet Pro Cycling Team | Row 101 - Cell 2 |
103 | Adam Stachowiak (Pol) Verva ActiveJet Pro Cycling Team | Row 102 - Cell 2 |
104 | Amets Txurruka (Spa) Orica-GreenEdge | Row 103 - Cell 2 |
105 | Pierre-Henri Lecuisinier (Fra) FDJ | Row 104 - Cell 2 |
106 | Julien Vermote (Bel) Etixx - Quick-Step | Row 105 - Cell 2 |
107 | Jorge Arcas Pena (Spa) Movistar Team | Row 106 - Cell 2 |
108 | Toms Skujins (Lat) Cannondale Pro Cycling | Row 107 - Cell 2 |
109 | Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Team Giant-Alpecin | Row 108 - Cell 2 |
110 | Sam Bewley (NZl) Orica-GreenEdge | Row 109 - Cell 2 |
111 | Nick Van Der Lijke (Ned) Roompot - Oranje Peloton | Row 110 - Cell 2 |
112 | Sindre Skjoestad Lunke (Nor) Team Giant-Alpecin | Row 111 - Cell 2 |
113 | Laurens De Vreese (Bel) Astana Pro Team | Row 112 - Cell 2 |
114 | Yves Lampaert (Bel) Etixx - Quick-Step | Row 113 - Cell 2 |
115 | Danny Van Poppel (Ned) Team Sky | Row 114 - Cell 2 |
116 | Matthias Krizek (Aut) Team Roth | Row 115 - Cell 2 |
117 | Magnus Cort Nielsen (Den) Orica-GreenEdge | Row 116 - Cell 2 |
118 | Christian Knees (Ger) Team Sky | Row 117 - Cell 2 |
119 | Nico Brüngger (Swi) Team Roth | Row 118 - Cell 2 |
120 | Tobias Ludvigsson (Swe) Team Giant-Alpecin | Row 119 - Cell 2 |
121 | Jan Hirt (Cze) CCC Sprandi Polkowice | Row 120 - Cell 2 |
122 | Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-Segafredo | Row 121 - Cell 2 |
123 | Dries Devenyns (Bel) IAM Cycling | Row 122 - Cell 2 |
124 | Leopold Konig (Cze) Team Sky | Row 123 - Cell 2 |
125 | Jaroslaw Marycz (Pol) CCC Sprandi Polkowice | Row 124 - Cell 2 |
126 | Simone Ponzi (Ita) CCC Sprandi Polkowice | Row 125 - Cell 2 |
127 | Michel Kreder (Ned) Roompot - Oranje Peloton | Row 126 - Cell 2 |
128 | Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 127 - Cell 2 |
129 | Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) Lampre - Merida | Row 128 - Cell 2 |
130 | Kévin Reza (Fra) FDJ | Row 129 - Cell 2 |
131 | Pieter Weening (Ned) Roompot - Oranje Peloton | Row 130 - Cell 2 |
132 | Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Team Giant-Alpecin | Row 131 - Cell 2 |
133 | Bruno Pires (Por) Team Roth | 0:07:01 |
134 | Maciej Bodnar (Pol) Tinkoff Team | Row 133 - Cell 2 |
135 | Raymond Kreder (Ned) Roompot - Oranje Peloton | Row 134 - Cell 2 |
136 | Evgeny Petrov (Rus) Tinkoff Team | Row 135 - Cell 2 |
137 | Jelle Wallays (Bel) Lotto Soudal | Row 136 - Cell 2 |
138 | Fernando Gaviria (Col) Etixx - Quick-Step | Row 137 - Cell 2 |
139 | Jay Robert Thomson (RSA) Dimension Data | Row 138 - Cell 2 |
140 | Matthias Brandle (Aut) IAM Cycling | 0:10:05 |
141 | Grégory Rast (Swi) Trek-Segafredo | Row 140 - Cell 2 |
142 | Branislau Samoilau (Blr) CCC Sprandi Polkowice | Row 141 - Cell 2 |
143 | Kiel Reijnen (USA) Trek-Segafredo | 0:12:24 |
144 | Sylwester Szmyd (Pol) CCC Sprandi Polkowice | 0:13:43 |
145 | Cheng Ji (Chn) Team Giant-Alpecin | Row 144 - Cell 2 |
146 | Valentin Baillifard (Swi) Team Roth | Row 145 - Cell 2 |
147 | Lukas Jaun (Swi) Team Roth | Row 146 - Cell 2 |
148 | Stijn Devolder (Bel) Trek-Segafredo | Row 147 - Cell 2 |
149 | Martin Kohler (Swi) Team Roth | Row 148 - Cell 2 |
150 | Jesse Sergent (NZl) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 149 - Cell 2 |
151 | Alex Dowsett (GBr) Movistar Team | Row 150 - Cell 2 |
152 | Kamil Gradek (Pol) Verva ActiveJet Pro Cycling Team | Row 151 - Cell 2 |
153 | Gatis Smukulis (Lat) Astana Pro Team | Row 152 - Cell 2 |
154 | Lars Boom (Ned) Astana Pro Team | Row 153 - Cell 2 |
155 | Davide Cimolai (Ita) Lampre - Merida | Row 154 - Cell 2 |
156 | Colin Stüssi (Swi) Team Roth | Row 155 - Cell 2 |
157 | Riccardo Zoidl (Aut) Trek-Segafredo | Row 156 - Cell 2 |
158 | Iljo Keisse (Bel) Etixx - Quick-Step | Row 157 - Cell 2 |
159 | Alessandro Vanotti (Ita) Astana Pro Team | Row 158 - Cell 2 |
160 | Matteo Bono (Ita) Lampre - Merida | Row 159 - Cell 2 |
161 | Matt Brammeier (Irl) Dimension Data | Row 160 - Cell 2 |
162 | Tyler Farrar (USA) Dimension Data | Row 161 - Cell 2 |
163 | Twan Castelijns (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo | Row 162 - Cell 2 |
164 | Adrien Niyonshuti (Rwa) Dimension Data | Row 163 - Cell 2 |
165 | Johan Le Bon (Fra) FDJ | Row 164 - Cell 2 |
166 | Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Astana Pro Team | Row 165 - Cell 2 |
167 | Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Soudal | Row 166 - Cell 2 |
168 | Sébastien Turgot (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 167 - Cell 2 |
169 | Damien Gaudin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 168 - Cell 2 |
170 | Rodrigo Contreras (Col) Etixx - Quick-Step | 0:16:07 |
171 | Berden De Vries (Ned) Roompot - Oranje Peloton | 0:19:07 |
DNF | Maurits Lammertink (Ned) Roompot - Oranje Peloton | Row 171 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Patrick Bevin (NZl) Cannondale Pro Cycling | Row 172 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Juan Jose Lobato (Spa) Movistar Team | Row 173 - Cell 2 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Silvan Dillier (Swi) BMC Racing Team | 6 | pts |
2 | Sven Erik Bystrøm (Nor) Team Katusha | 3 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
3 | Grégory Rast (Swi) Trek-Segafredo | 1 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Silvan Dillier (Swi) BMC Racing Team | 6 | pts |
2 | Sven Erik Bystrøm (Nor) Team Katusha | 3 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
3 | Huub Duijn (Ned) Roompot - Oranje Peloton | 1 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff Team | 10 | pts |
2 | Michael Albasini (Swi) Orica-GreenEdge | 8 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
3 | Silvan Dillier (Swi) BMC Racing Team | 6 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
4 | Maximiliano Richeze (Arg) Etixx - Quick-Step | 4 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
5 | Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Soudal | 2 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Antwan Tolhoek (Ned) Roompot - Oranje Peloton | 8 | pts |
2 | Huub Duijn (Ned) Roompot - Oranje Peloton | 6 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
3 | Bruno Pires (Por) Team Roth | 4 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
4 | Mathew Hayman (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge | 2 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
5 | Silvan Dillier (Swi) BMC Racing Team | 1 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Antwan Tolhoek (Ned) Roompot - Oranje Peloton | 5 | pts |
2 | Bruno Pires (Por) Team Roth | 3 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
3 | Huub Duijn (Ned) Roompot - Oranje Peloton | 2 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
4 | Silvan Dillier (Swi) BMC Racing Team | 1 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Antwan Tolhoek (Ned) Roompot - Oranje Peloton | 5 | pts |
2 | Bruno Pires (Por) Team Roth | 3 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
3 | Branislau Samoilau (Blr) CCC Sprandi Polkowice | 2 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
4 | Silvan Dillier (Swi) BMC Racing Team | 1 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
---|---|---|---|
1 |