the norwegian Andreas Leknessund (DSM) achieved his first World Tour success with a single showing of strength in the final section allowing him to sign up for the second round of Cycling Tour of Switzerland disputed between Küsnacht and Aesch with a route of 198 kilometers, where the British retained the yellow jersey Stephen Williams (Bahrain Victorious).
This time, the escape was able to defeat the majority, and in particular the strength of one runner before all. Leknessund (Tromso, 23 years old), Norway’s double time trial champion, showed off his riding skills in the moment of stage reality. He fought in the ports, in the last attack and alone he rode 18 km towards the finish line, unreachable despite the platoon’s command to hunt.
Leknessund reached the finish line in time to savor the taste of victory, not believing in his massive display. One of all. He signed his first big win in a time of 4h.46.23, and in 7 seconds he was no longer leading for a few seconds. He was avoided by the crowd, who crossed 38 seconds with Italian Alberto Bettiol (EF Education) thinking he was the winner. I didn’t know that Leknessund was celebrating the stage win.
Within the group, Williams led, retaining the yellow jersey for 4 seconds against German Maximilian Schachmann (Bora Hansgrohe) and 6 against Danish Andreas Kron (Lotto Soudal), second and third respectively.
The stage was underlined with interest in the last 70 km, where 3 interesting climbs were concentrated. Soon, 10 riders left in search of glory: Holmes, Schär, Badilatti, Leknessund, Rutsch, Basso, Suter, Burgaudeau, Vitzthum and Imhof.
The project is solid climbing Gempen (2a, 5.4 km to 4.6%), whose peloton is far away, 4 min. Of course, the leakage went from 10 to 7 units. Later, at the top of Eichenberg (3rd, 3 km to 7.4) there are 6 left, with the same difference as before. This is when Bora began to realize that they could be left without a stage and without a yellow jersey for Schachmann.
At 30 meters from the finish, through the lush green valley leading to the Challpass (2nd, 6.3 km to 6.3%), the differences began to diminish. Bora’s efforts were accompanied by Quick Step and Ineos as they passed through the town of Lauten.
The hunt operation has already begun, but so has the escape operation. To just one person: Andreas Leknessund, his country’s expert time trial king in space and European sub’23 champion. The Nordic decided to do a time trial instead of allowing itself to be swallowed up by the greedy majority already led by Alpecin Fenix.
They all surrendered except Lesnessund. The boy gritted his teeth, did not look back and held on for a minute in the last 10km. Everyone is flying, the Lone Ranger and the chasing train. High speed on the roads of the Jura. Norwegian got it. He reached the finish line, looked back just in case and celebrated his first big victory. Bettiol also celebrated this, unaware of the existence of a man who was stronger and faster than the others. Sometimes these things happen.
This Tuesday the third stage between Aesch and Grenchen, which is 176.9 km, is disputed.
Source: La Verdad
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