With stupendous superiority Peter Sagan (SVK/BOH) won the 5th stage in Cevio ahead of Michael Albasini (SUI/ORS). Damiano Caruso (ITA/BMC) extended his overall lead by winning a bonus second.
At the end of the longest stage of this Swiss Tour, 222 km long, Sagan reacted to an early push by Nikias Arndt (GER/SUN) who did not find his fast team mate Michael Matthews (AUS) on his rear wheel, but watched in amazement as Sagan shot past him. Albasini reacted to the speed increase of the two-time road world champion, but a few tenths of a second too late.
In Berne, Sagen had ‘only’ reached 2nd place: “Maybe I had to suffer too much at Aargauerstalden. You never really know in the end.” All the better it worked out now in the Maggia Valley: “I am very happy about this success. Our team had agreed before the start in Bex that it was all or nothing. The team sacrificed themselves for me, and I remained very concentrated right up to the last few metres.
On the journey from Valais to Ticino he had actually spent a bad day. However, the thunderstorm rain at the beginning of the Maggia Valley had given him new strength, Sagan confessed: “Suddenly things started to happen. “This victory gives me confidence in the Tour de France.” The Slovakian will try there again in July to conquer the green jersey of the best rider on points.
The overall first placed Damiano Caruso (ITA/BMC) spent a quiet day, which went fast for him despite the long distance: “We set a high pace right from the start. Afterwards we had to get through the many corners in the Centovalli and the thunderstorm rain unharmed. And because the other overall best didn’t make the slightest effort, I got a second time credit for the intermediate spurt in Maggia.
Caruso once again praised his team mates, who would have done an excellent job for him. For Thursday’s royal stage over the San Bernardino and Albula Pass with the arrival in La Punkt, the professional cyclist from Sicily stuck to his usual motto: “I look from day to day.” Matthias Frank (SUI/ALM) defended his 6th place overall, “because contrary to my expectations I had good legs.
