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Lopez time trials into Tour de Suisse race lead ahead of final stage

Jon Izaguirre (Movistar) blazed around the  Davos circuit to claim victory on the penultimate stage of the Tour de Suisse, while Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) moved into the yellow jersey after placing second.

Unlike previous editions, the second and final individual time trial of the 2016 Tour de Suisse was much shorter, but it doesn't mean it was also much easier, despite the fact the riders had to cover only 16.8 kilometers. Held around Davos, in the Graubünden canton, the course awaited the riders with several lumpy sections, including a 3-km climb which averaged 5%, and had two focal points: the fight for victory and the battle of the GC contenders, who knew this was the penultimate opportunity to gain time on their rivals.

With many of the favourites starting late, less than one minute behind Ion Izagirre (Movistar), who cruised to the win ahead of Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana), the new leader of the overall standings.

Miguel Angel Lopez will take a narrow lead into the final stage of the Tour de Suisse after the Colombian rider moved to the top of the general classification following a strong performance in today’s 16.8 kilometre individual time trial.

The 22-year-old moved into contention for the overall victory at the International Cycling Union (UCI) World Tour race yesterday, when he finished as the runner-up to the United States’ Tejay van Garderen in Sölden.

It saw him move to just 21 seconds off the race leader Warren Barguil of France, but Lopez’s time trialling ability was in evidence today in Bravos.

He completed the route in a time of 21min and 49sec to ignite his challenge for the race lead, but it would only prove enough for him to finish as the runner-up for the second consecutive day.

Spain’s Jon Izaguirre ultimately celebrated the stage win, after the 27-year-old produced a stunning ride to finish 18 seconds clear of Lopez in the time trial.

Home favourite Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland ended a further second behind Lopez in third, while former race leader Wilco Kelderman of The Netherlands ended 21 seconds adrift of Izaguirre.

Lopez, though, ultimately moved into the race lead with Barguil having struggled significantly to lose almost a minute.

The Colombian will head into the final stage eight seconds ahead of the United States’ Andrew Talansky, while Izaguirre’s stage win helped move him up to third, 16 seconds off the pace.

Barguil could still threaten as the Frenchman is only 18 seconds down in fourth.

Last stage of the Tour de Suisse will take place in and out of Davos over 117 kilometers, and will give the climbers one last chance to shine, Albulapass (17.4 km, 6.9%) and Flüelapass (12.9 km, 7.4%) being the two ascents which should make the difference. Holder of the black jersey since coming second on stage 5, Maximiliano Richeze has to complete this final grueling day in order to become the first Argentinian winner of the points classification.

Results

1 Jon Izaguirre (Spa) Movistar Team 0:21:31 
2 Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana 0:00:18 
3 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Trek-Segafredo 0:00:19 
4 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo 0:00:21 
5 Andrew Talansky (USA) Cannondale 0:00:23 
6 Jonathan Castroviejo (Spa) Movistar Team 0:00:24 
7 Jarlinson Pantano (Col) IAM Cycling 0:00:25 
8 Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge   
9 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky 0:00:33 
10 Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC 0:00:34 

General classification after Tour De Suisse Stage

1 Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana 29:32:03 
2 Andrew Talansky (USA) Cannondale 0:00:08 
3 Jon Izaguirre (Spa) Movistar Team 0:00:16 
4 Warren Barguil (Fra) Giant-Alpecin 0:00:18 
5 Jarlinson Pantano (Col) IAM Cycling 0:00:52 
6 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo 0:01:21 
7 Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC 0:01:26 
8 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky 0:01:30 
9 Simon Spilak (Rus) Katusha 0:01:31 
10 Rui Faria Da Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida 0:02:09