Simon Spilak uses ITT to vault into victory at Tour de Suisse
Tom Dumoulin wins the final time trial but Simon Spilak finishes second to snatch the overall victory from Thibaut Pinot
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
BERNE, Switzerland (AFP) — Simon Spilak (Katusha) won the Tour de Suisse on Sunday after the final individual time trial through the streets of Berne.
Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin) won the 38.4km ITT. But Spilak, who began the stage third in the overall standings, finished second to Dumoulin, just 18 seconds down, and overhauled race leader Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) to take the overall title.
Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing) rounded out the stage podium in third. at 19 seconds.
On the overall, Spilak took the title by five seconds over Geraint Thomas (Sky) with Dumoulin third at 19 seconds.
Pinot, who had led the race since Wednesday, slipped off the podium into fourth at 45 seconds.
“After a lot of second and third places, finally I have managed again to win a big race. Of course this is the biggest victory in my career,” said Spilak. “This was a main objective in the season and I was very motivated, so to get this victory is incredible.”
Dumoulin was likewise happy to have followed his victory in the prologue with a second in the final stage.
“I am really happy with this win. The course went up and down constantly, with a lot of technical sections, which always makes it difficult to find a good rhythm, but that suited me well today,” he said.
“I never focused on the result; instead I focused on my effort in the time trial. In the end I got the best result possible, and I don’t think I lost it anywhere. The goal was to deliver two good time trials, and I did this by winning them both.”