An Intense Showdown: Stage 3 of the Tour de Suisse Dials Up the Heat

The Tour de Suisse Stage 3, a 144 km long ride from Tafers to Villars-sur-Ollon, delivered on its promise of heating up the general classification. The significant challenges of the day – Col des Mosses and the final climb to Villars-sur-Ollon – ensured an engrossing day of racing.

The day started with an ambitious breakaway quartet featuring Alexander Kamp from Tudor Pro Cycling, Lilian Calmejane of Intermarché, Nickolas Zukowsky of Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, and Paul Ourselin from TotalEnergies. With a promising 3’25” lead and 116 km to cover, the dynamic group set a fierce pace.

The breakaway’s drive was reflected in the early average speed of 42.2 km/h, a testament to the strength and determination of the group. This commanding pace showed just how eager these riders were to carve out an early lead.

The first significant challenge of the day was the category 1 climb, Col des Mosses. Here, we witnessed a splendid performance by Lilian Calmejane of Intermarché, who secured the King of the Mountain (KOM), closely followed by breakaway companion Nickolas Zukowsky.

Descending from Col des Mosses, the riders faced another challenge: a lengthy and wet descent due to rain. Descent in the rain is a perilous part of racing, demanding skill, concentration, and composure. Fortunately, the peloton navigated this section without any major incidents, showing their impressive technical skills.

The second category 1 climb of the day was the finish line at Villars-sur-Ollon. Here, Mathias Skjelmose of Trek demonstrated his climbing prowess, triumphing over Felix Gall of AG2R. Skjelmose’s victory proved his mettle as a versatile rider capable of both climbing and sprinting.

A noteworthy moment of the day was the explosive attack by Remco Evenepoel with 6 km to go. It was a bold move, displaying both his strength and tactical acumen. His fierce push helped him gain valuable time in the general classification.

After this grueling stage, the general classification took an interesting turn. Mathias Skjelmose rose to the top, followed by Remco Evenepoel at 17” behind, and Juan Ayuso trailing by 24”.

Stage 3 of the Tour de Suisse certainly lived up to the expectations, bringing a thrilling mix of breakaways, challenging climbs, and high-speed descents. It underscored the beauty of cycling: unpredictability, endurance, and the raw thrill of competition. As we head into the next stage, we can only expect more excitement and intense battles for the general classification.