LottoNL Jumbo’s Wilco Kelderman came a few tenths of a second too short to get the leader's jersey in the Tour de Suisse. The 25-year-old Dutchman finished fifth in the stage won by Darwin Atapuma (BMC).

Pierre Latour (AG2R) took the jersey after placing third with the same time in the overall as Kelderman.

A break went early into the 126-kilometre stage. Sports Director Frans Maassen appointed Koen Bouwman and Paul Martens to be in the breakaway, but Bram Tankink did so with 24 others.

"Tankink said that he felt strong and wanted to go in the break,” Maassen explained. “It was quite a struggle to get in the break but he finally succeeded.” After the break split on the Gotthard Pass and Tankink returned to the peloton. “He put Kelderman in the front at the foot of the final climb to Cari."

Kelderman crashes

"I fell. That was a disappointment,” said Kelderman. "Someone stood up on his pedals and I struck his wheel. I broke my bike, but my legs were good. I felt right so I had morale in the final. The crash was stupid, though."

"At the time Kelderman went to the doctor, the peloton broke up. Fortunately, Lindeman and Martens could close the gap,” added Maassen. “We will see what the damage is tonight, but what Kelderman showed on the final climb bodes well."

"We get four stages to climb,” Kelderman added. “I had hoped that I would have this level because in altitude training my values ​​were good. Better than before."

“We set the bar high today and Kelderman proved that he is on a good level,” continued Maassen. “He looked strong and we knew that this would be possible. The jersey is always nice, but we are certainly not upset because there are still four difficult days where Kelderman can try."

On the final climb, Kelderman was in the small peloton and he tried to attack in the final. Not much later, Warren Barguil (Giant Alpecin) moved clear and finished four seconds behind Atapuma. Seven seconds behind the winner, Latour finished, and at nine seconds, Tejay van Garderen (BMC) and Kelderman. Latour, thanks to bonus seconds, was equal with Kelderman, but the hundredths of a second in the prologue the difference.

Tomorrow

"Tomorrow is a similar stage like today, more hard climbs and summit finish,” said Maassen. “We hope that Kelderman shows the same strength tomorrow.”