Demi Vollering is the first leader of the women’s Tour of Switzerland. The Dutchman from SD Worx-Protime takes the success in the stage with departure and arrival at Villars-sur-Ollon, 58.6 kilometres, winning with a 22” lead on Gaia Realini (Lidl-Trek) and 46” on Elise Chabbey (Canyon/Sram Racing). Fourth instead was Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek).
Own Chabbey is the one who characterizes the first part of the fraction, which is rather short. The Swiss decides to start on the first GPM of the day, the Col de la Croix (3.9 km at 8.8%), placed at the start. Kim Cadzow (EF Education-Cannondale) immediately tries with her, only to then lose the wheels of Chabbey who climbs the hill alone and hurtles downhill.
And the group lets it go, also affected by the rain that begins to fall heavily on the race until -30 meters from the finish line. Marie Schreiber (SD Worx-Protime) also tries to get behind Chabbey, while the peloton is almost three minutes behind five kilometers from the start of the second and final climb.
The SD Worx starts to make its own pace with Schreiber who works for Vollering, but it is Gaia Realini who breaks the deadlock in the small group, with the Dutch champion immediately putting herself behind her while Longo Borghini stays behind her opponents so as not to break her teammate’s eggs. And in the meantime the two approach Chabbey, catching her 1300 meters from the finish line. Just at that moment Vollering starts, and with his forcing the Italian sprints to go on to win alone ahead of Realini, still an excellent second.
