In a surprising turn of events, heavy snowfall in the higher mountains forced organizers to shorten the sixth stage of the Tour de Suisse to 42.5 km. The original route was meant to be longer, but safety concerns necessitated the change, ensuring the race could proceed without risk to the cyclists.
UAE Team Emirates Takes Charge
The UAE Team Emirates dominated the shortened stage from Ulrichen to Blatten, with Portugal’s Joao Almeida securing victory with a time of 55:13. Close behind, Adam Yates, also from UAE Team Emirates, finished just 4 seconds later, retaining his lead in the general classification. Denmark’s Mattias Skjelmose of Lidl-Trek took third place, trailing by 9 seconds.
General Classification Update
After six stages, Yates remains in the lead, holding a 27-second advantage over Almeida. Egan Bernal of INEOS Grenadiers sits in third, 1 minute and 28 seconds behind Yates. The competition remains fierce as the race approaches its final stages.
Looking Ahead: Tour de France
The Tour de Suisse will conclude on Sunday with an individual time trial from Aigle to Villars-sur-Ollon. Notably, both Yates and Almeida are set to support Tadej Pogacar in the upcoming Tour de France, beginning on June 29. Their performances in Switzerland bode well for their roles in helping Pogacar aim for victory in one of cycling’s most prestigious events.
Results – 6th Stage (Ulrichen to Blatten, 42.5 km):
- Joao Almeida (Portugal/UAE Team Emirates) – 55:13
- Adam Yates (Great Britain/UAE Team Emirates) – +4 s
- Mattias Skjelmose (Denmark/Lidl-Trek) – +9 s
- Egan Bernal (Colombia/INEOS Grenadiers) – +15 s
- Lenny Martinez (France/Groupama-FDJ) – +35 s
- Tom Pidcock (Great Britain/INEOS Grenadiers) – +40 s
General Classification:
- Adam Yates (Great Britain/UAE Team Emirates) – 16:39:46
- Joao Almeida (Portugal/UAE Team Emirates) – +27 s
- Egan Bernal (Colombia/INEOS Grenadiers) – +1:28
- Mattias Skjelmose (Denmark/Lidl-Trek) – +2:24
- Enric Mas (Spain/Movistar Team) – +2:38
- Matthew Riccitello (USA/Israel-Premier Tech) – +2:42
