The Colombian Egan Bernal (center) was one of the protagonists in the fifth stage and climbed positions in the general classification of the Tour of Switzerland.
Photo: EFE – GIAN EHRENZELLER
The British Adam Yates (UAE Emirates) was unstoppable and, with absolute control and dominance, this Thursday he won the fifth stage of the Tour of Switzerland 2024. The section consisted of 14.8 km, starting from Ambrí and finishing high to Carí.
Yates, who acquired the lead on Wednesday, crossed the finish line with a time of 3h54’37, preceding his Portuguese teammate Joao Almeida and the Colombian Egan Bernal (Ineos), who entered at 5 and 16 seconds, respectively.
In a winding stage, with three mountain passes – the first two in the first thirty kilometers, the last with the finish line -, with several escape attempts, Yates showed that he was in great shape and now has a lead of 35 seconds over Almeida, second overall.
The best Latin American in the race is Egan Bernal, who occupies third position, 1:11 minutes behind the British. This Thursday, Antioquian Sergio Higuita (Bora) entered the top 10, 3:01 minutes behind Yates. Brandon Rivera (Ineos) occupies box 25.
This was the fifth stage of the Tour of Switzerland
It was Almeida first who put the peloton firmly on the final ascent, little by little decimating the group. This caused that about 4 km from the finish line a quintet was formed that opened distances over the bulk of the group and was made up of the Portuguese, Yates, the Colombian Bernal, the Spanish Enric Mas (Movistar) and the American Matthew Riccitello (IPT ).
The quintet was clear that the stage victory was going to be at stake; and it was no less clear that Yates wanted the victory. The Briton attacked 1.6 km from the finish line and only Enric Mas resisted him from the start. Then Bernal caught up with them, but neither the Colombian nor the Spaniard could keep up with Yates’ strong pace.
He went alone to the finish line, while Almeida caught up with and surpassed Bernal and Enric Mas, the latter of whom was also passed at the end by Riccitello. Yates took the stage, followed by Almeida, 5 seconds behind; from Bernal, at 16; from Riccitello, at 18; and Enric Mas, at 22.
