Sergio Higuita, runner-up of the Tour de Suisse

the Colombian cyclist Sergio Higuita could not defend the small advantage he had in the queen stage of the competition and had to settle for second place in the Tour of Switzerlandafter being overtaken in the individual time trial by his main rival, Geraint Thomas (Ineo).

Thomas (Ineos) returned to the top of a podium as the eventual winner of the 85th edition of the Tour de Suisse after the eighth and final stage with a 25.6 km course starting and finishing in vaduz, capital of the Principality of Liechtenstein, in which the Belgian won Remco Evenepoel.

Evenepoel (Aalst, 22 years old) raced in the time trial at 54 km/h and set a finish time of 28.25 seconds that no one could beat. Geraint Thomas approached in 3 seconds, whose effort was enough to take the general’s yellow jersey. Third place in the time trial went to the Swiss Stefan Kung, up to 10 seconds.

Colombian Sergio Higuita (Bora) was unable to hold onto the lead, something Medellín already suspected, as he was just 3 seconds ahead of Thomas, a specialist in individual wrestling. However, Higuita was able to qualify second, 1.12 minutes behind the Cardiff rider, saving his place by 4 seconds against the Dane. Jakob Fuglsang (Israel Premier Tech), third in drawer.

Great time for Evenepoel, who added his ninth win of the season and the 31st of his record. The winner of the Liège Bastogne Liège put his best foot forward and once he was in the “hot seat” of the fastest time, he only got up to celebrate his success.

And a nice victory for Thomas, an old cycling rocker, from the former Sky factory, 36 years old, winner of the Tour de France (2018), Dauphiné and Romandie stage events, double Olympic champion and triple world champion on track, among others, now trying to give the laurels green again. He has not earned anything since 2021.

The prognosis was sung in Thomas’s favor. Higuita himself, after taking the lead last Saturday, lamented the fact that he did not have “more advantage” for the final time trial, where the specialists would speak. The Dutch Dylan VanBaarle He had marked a time to be reckoned with, but when Evenepoel arrived, they were already big words. The boy had been beaten at 54 per hour.

When Swiss Stefan Kung arrived at 10 seconds, everything depended on Thomas, who was very close, but couldn’t finish the stage and the overall double. Higuita left more than 1 minute on the way. He did not fulfill his dream, but he showed that his performance could be interesting for Bora in future commitments. Who knows if it will be in the Vuelta when the weather shines.

Source: El heraldo

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