Andreas Leknessund has won the second stage in the Tour of Switzerland. The 23-year-old Norwegian from Team DSM escaped on the final climb and arrived solo. Although the peloton, which crossed the line 38 seconds later, had missed that moment.
Leknessund was seven seconds short to help Stephen Williams, Sunday’s surprise winner, out of the leader’s jersey.
Remains leading group
The 198 kilometer stage from Küsnacht to Aesch contained one climb of the third category and two of the second. At the last, the Challpass (second category), a leading group of six started, the remainder of ten early breakaways.
Leknessund, who had six bonus seconds on the way from two intermediate sprints, quickly took off and had a lead of just over a minute at the top with only the descent towards the finish line remaining.
The victory of the European junior time trial champion in 2017 was not in danger, although the peloton behind him drove on at full speed. There they thought they were fighting for the win. Alberto Bettiol came over the line cheering 38 seconds after Leknessund, but the former winner of the Tour of Flanders soon realized the mistake.
