American Tejay Van Garderen won the seventh stage of the Tour of Switzerland on Friday at Soelden in Austria with France’s Warren Barguil taking the race lead.
Giant rider Barguil grabbed the yellow jersey from Dutchman Wilco Kelderman after finishing third behind BMC’s Van Garderen.
Barguil had been second overall before the longest and most difficult stage, covering 224.3km from Amden in Switzerland to the Rettenbach Glacier in Austria.
Up to ten riders could have won the stage with three-time Tour of Switzerland winner Rui Costa, Geraint Thomas, Andrew Talansky, Van Garderen, and last year’s champion Simon Spilak, all well placed.
Van Garderen was the first to attack, with Barguil responding, followed by Colombian Lopez Moreno.
Van Garderen finished 16sec ahead of his two rivals with Thomas losing one minute, which could prove costly on the eve of the 16.8 km time-trial at Davos which could decide the race winner.
Kelderman finished two minutes off the pace as France’s Pierre Latour of AG2R, who had worn the leader’s jersey for a day, pulled out of the race because of symptoms of bronchitis. – Agence France-Presse
