In a swooping finish, Portuguese rider João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates – XRG) claimed another victory in the race this Saturday after triumphing in the seventh stage of the Tour de Suisse. The mountainous stage featured a demanding journey between Neuhausen am Rheinfall and Emmetten over 207.3 kilometers.
The Portuguese rider, who completed his second victory, was the fastest in the reduced sprint, overtaking Briton Oscar Onley (Team Picnic PostNL) and Frenchman Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa – B&B Hotels) in the final meters, second and third respectively.
Boyacá native Nairo Quintana (Movistar Team) finished in 46th place, more than 12 minutes behind the winner. The Beetle now sits in 49th place, more than 55 minutes behind the leader, Frenchman Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa – B&B Hotels).
Vauquelin, who salvaged the lead, is closely followed by Portugal’s João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates – XRG), just 33 seconds behind. The podium is completed by Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor Pro Cycling Team).
The Swiss round concludes this Sunday with a 10-kilometer individual time trial between Beckenried and Stockhütte, where we will find out who will succeed last year’s champion, Adam Yates of Great Britain.
Ranking General
| 1 | Kévin Vauquelin | Arkéa – B&B Hotels | 29:00:55 |
| 2 | João Almeida | UAE Team Emirates – XRG | 0:33 |
| 3 | Julian Alaphilippe | Tudor Pro Cycling Team | 0:41 |
| 4 | Oscar Onley | Team Picnic PostNL | 1:19 |
| 5 | Felix Gall | Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team | 2:28 |
| 6 | Lennard Kamna | Lidl – Trek | 2:59 |
| 7 | Ben O’Connor | Team Jayco AlUla | 3:34 |
| 8 | Pablo Castrillo | Movistar Team | 4:27 |
| 9 | VAN WILDER Ilan van Wilder | Soudal Quick-Step | 4:30 |
| 10 | Clément Champossin | XDS Astana Team | 6:07 |
Source: Revista Mundo Ciclístico