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Monday, June 22, 2026

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June 24 - 28: National Championshps
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Tour of Switzerland stage five reports

We posted the report from stage five and GC winner Tadej Pogacar's UAE Team Emirates-XRG with the results.

Here's the Tour of Switzerland report from second-place Lenny Martinez's Team Bahrain Victorious:

Team Bahrain Victorious closed the Tour de Suisse with Lenny Martinez finishing second on the final stage in Villars-sur-Ollon and claiming the #rideforgino Mountain Prize.

The concluding stage, a demanding 150.7km mountain route starting and finishing in Villars-sur-Ollon, brought the race to a close with repeated ascents of the Col de la Croix. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) took the stage victory, with Martinez finishing second after a long day in the breakaway, while Bart Lemmen (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) completed the podium.

Lenny Martinez finishes stage five. Sirotti photo

For Bahrain Victorious, the result carried significance beyond the stage finish.

Martinez was part of the day’s main breakaway alongside teammate Afonso Eulálio, with the team targeting the #rideforgino Mountain Prize on the highest point of the race. Martinez crossed the summit first to claim the prize, created in memory of former Bahrain Victorious rider Gino Mäder, who tragically passed away following the 2023 Tour de Suisse.

After securing the prize, Martinez continued his pursuit of the stage victory on the final climb to Villars-sur-Ollon. Pogačar eventually caught him inside the final kilometre before riding on to the win, while Martinez held on for second place, giving Bahrain Victorious its strongest result of the week.

Martinez said:
“It was a really tough day. I was in the breakaway from early on and UAE were controlling hard behind, so it was complicated. On the Col de la Croix, where the #rideforgino Mountain Prize was awarded, I really wanted to take it for the team, for Roman, and for everyone. It is something important for us.

After that, I tried to go again on the final climb and fight for the stage, but today Pogačar was super strong. He caught me with one kilometre to go, and at that point I was really empty. I gave everything, so I can be proud of the ride. To finish second on the stage and take the #rideforgino prize makes it a special day for me and for the team.”

Sports Director Roman Kreuziger added:
“Stage 5 was an incredible effort from the whole team. Having Afonso and Lenny in the breakaway was part of the plan, and I think the guys executed it really well. There were still some difficult moments, including a technical issue for Afonso, who had to stop on the climb and then chase back, but both riders did a great job.

"For Lenny, the mission was completed with the #rideforgino prize at the top of the climb. For me, that is something really personal, and I think the boys understood the importance of it. They were fighting for it, and it was nice to see.

"On the final climb, we knew it would be difficult with the gap we had, but Lenny asked what to do and the message was clear: he had the legs, so there was nothing to wait for. Pogačar was impressive, as always, but Lenny also produced an excellent performance. To finish second after the fight he made is a little bitter, but we should definitely not be disappointed.

"We also have to remember where we were a few days ago, when the guys were struggling in the heat. As a team, we improved our cooling strategy, the staff supported the riders in the best way, and I am really happy with how the guys raced today. Lenny was also coming back after a crash while training in Teide last week, so to see him perform like this is a big boost for everyone in the team.”

The final stage marked a strong response from Bahrain Victorious after a difficult start to the race, with the team resetting its objectives and closing the week with a podium finish and a result carrying special meaning at the Tour de Suisse.

Here's the Tour de Suisse stage five report from third-place Bart Lemmen's Team Visma | Lease a Bike:

Bart Lemmen showed his very best in the queen stage of the Tour de Suisse. The Dutch rider rode his way from the early breakaway to a third-place finish. Tadej Pogacar won the stage.

In the queen stage, Team Visma | Lease a Bike was prominently present at the front of the race. On the first ascent of the Col de la Croix, an early breakaway formed, with Bart Lemmen making the selection.

The breakaway built up a solid advantage heading into the final climb, where Lemmen made a strong impression. However, it was not enough for the stage victory. Pogacar ultimately soloed to the win, while Lemmen fought his way to a strong third place.

Bart Lemmen finishes third. Sirotti photo

“I’m satisfied with my performance today,” said the 30-year-old Dutchman afterwards. “On the climbs I quickly felt I had good legs and I took my chance. This morning I didn’t feel completely great because I had spent a lot of energy over the past few days, but it’s nice to finish the race like this.”

Next weekend, Lemmen will line up at the national championships, which he is looking forward to. “My form is very good at the moment. The course of the national championships looks promising and could suit me. It’s of course different from the climbs in Switzerland, but I’m feeling good. I’m looking forward to it.”

Fourth-place Jarno Widar's Team Lotto-Intermarché posted this report:

Jarno Widar wrapped up the Tour de Suisse with an impressive fourth-place finish. In the brutally demanding final stage to Villars-sur-Ollon, he was the only rider able to launch a chase behind Tadej Pogačar. Unfortunately, he was unable to catch the two remaining breakaway riders, but that hardly spoiled the day. “I wanted to test myself for the general classification this week and that didn’t work out, but today I still give myself an eight out of ten.”

Before the start, Tadej Pogačar described the final stage of this Tour de Suisse— starting and finishing in the ski resort of Villars-sur-Ollon— as the toughest stage of his season. Riders faced 150.7 kilometres featuring four ascents of the Col de la Croix, a climb measuring 19.1 kilometres at an average gradient of 7%, for a total of 4,500 metres of elevation gain. Add temperatures of 35°C and it is clear the world champion was right. Pogačar took the win, while Widar delivered an excellent fourth-place finish just behind him.

Jarno Widar finishes fourth. Sirotti photo

An early breakaway of eleven riders stayed clear for a long time, but with eight kilometres remaining they were reeled in one by one by Pogačar. Widar launched his chase from behind. Apart from Lenny Martinez and Bart Lemmen, he too managed to catch the remaining breakaway riders. “At first everyone tried to follow Pogačar, but I immediately knew I had to ride my own pace,” said Widar. “We had already been riding hard all day and I saw riders dropping one by one. I knew that if I went over my limit, I would blow up.”

That steady approach carried the still only 20-year-old Widar to fourth place. “And I’m definitely happy with that,” he said. “When it became clear in the opening stage that I wouldn’t be able to compete for the overall classification, I could fully focus on this final stage. During yesterday’s time trial, I deliberately saved energy because I didn’t want to start today with tired legs.”

The Tour de Suisse was Widar’s first-ever WorldTour race. It was also— after Gippingen last weekend— his first competition following several months on the sidelines due to a knee injury. “I had hoped to test myself better for the general classification here, but unfortunately I can’t perform miracles. I wasn’t able to do an altitude training camp and I’m not yet adapted to the heat either. I felt that from day one. The second day was better, but I was badly positioned. I could have moved up, but then I would have risked blowing up again in those temperatures. I used stages three and four to recover.”

That strategy paid off. “I got the maximum out of today. I still need to analyse my numbers, but I never really struggled throughout the day and went all-out at the end. Looking at the whole week, maybe I failed my exam, but today I still give myself an eight out of ten.”

Liam Slock also enjoyed a strong Tour de Suisse. He climbed five places in the general classification on the final day to secure an excellent 19th overall position.

GC second-place Richard Carapaz's Team EF Education-EasyPost posted this Swiss Tour report:

Richard Carapaz finished second overall at the Tour de Suisse after a brave and consistent week of racing through the Swiss mountains.

The Ecuadorian set the tone on the opening stage in Sondrio, where the race exploded far earlier than expected. When Tadej Pogačar launched his long-range attack, Richard did not wait for the race to come back together. He committed fully, rode clear of the chasers, and spent much of the final 50 kilometers alone in pursuit. It was a huge ride: aggressive, determined, and full of the fight that has made Richard one of the most exciting racers in the peloton.

That performance put him second on the stage and second overall, a position he would defend all the way to the end.

Richard Carapaz heads to the start of Tour de Suisse stage three. Sirotti photo

Sunday’s last stage, a demanding mountain circuit from around the Col de la Croix, offered one final test. With more than 4,400 meters of climbing and very little flat road, there was nowhere to hide. Richard rode with the calm and control of a Grand Tour winner, staying attentive on the climbs and fighting all the way to the line to secure his place on the final podium.

Richard’s podium also capped a huge week for EF Pro Cycling in Switzerland. His second place overall followed Cédrine Kerbaol’s ride to second overall at the women’s Tour de Suisse, giving the team two GC podiums in one of the most important racing weeks of the summer.

Proud of our two standout performances on Swiss roads. What a week of racing.

Here's the Tour de Suisse stage five report from GC fourth-place Tobias Foss's Team Netcompany INEOS:

Tobias Foss rounded out a strong and consistent showing at the Tour de Suisse with fourth place overall.

The Norwegian finished in eighth place on a mountainous queen stage featuring three ascents of the Col de la Croix. That effort saw the Netcompany INEOS rider jump up two places overall into fourth after five days of racing.

Foss finished well despite the lead group of contenders blowing apart on the final run-in, following the attack of race leader Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates - XRG).

Pogacar overhauled breakaway rider Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) in the final kilometre to claim the stage win and the yellow jersey.

Tobias Foss finishes stage four. Sirotti photo

AJ August had been present in the early 11-man breakaway, but would slip back on the second full ascent of the Col de la Croix.

Michal Kwiatkowski and Axel Laurance helped to support Foss as the stage wore on, playing a key role in a strong GC finish.

And here's The Tour de Suisse stage five report from King of the Mountains Louis Vervaeke's Team Soudal Quick-Step:

Louis Vervaeke capped off the last World Tour race before the Tour de France by taking home the green jersey which rewards the winner of the mountain classification - a remarkable achievement for Soudal Quick-Step’s 32-year-old.

Going into the final day of the competition, Louis had a small margin in the standings, but was determined to fight for it, and as soon as the flag was waved, he jumped from the peloton and went in the breakaway. The points he scored on the first ranked climb gave an important morale-boost to Vervaeke, who continued to put in a strong rhythm out there as the leading group padded out their advantage to more than two minutes.

Louis Vervaeke won the climber's proze. Sirotti photo

On the first ascent of the legendary Col de la Croix, Louis emerged from the group to take again maximum points, which made him virtual winner of the ranking provided he would finish the stage. Not only did he accomplish this, Louis was among the last riders from the move to get caught by the yellow jersey with only a few kilometers to go. Several minutes after the stage concluded, Vervaeke arrived home and went to the podium to receive his well-deserved award.

Baloise Belgium Tour stage five reports

We posted the report from stage five & GC second-place Jenno Berckmoes' Lotto-Intermarché team with the results.

Here's the report from third-place Max Kanter's XDS Astana Team:

XDS Astana Team rider Max Kanter finishes the Baloise Belgium Tour with another third place on Stage 5.

The final stage of the race started in Gingelom and after 183.5 kilometers finished with a bunch sprint in Hoeilaart, where Max Kanter placed third.

Jasper Philipsen wins stage five. Sprint Cycling photo

“In general, I think it was a very good race for us. We just missed out with Davide (Toneatti) on a top-10 in the GC, but overall it was a really strong result from him in the general classification (12th place). Today’s stage was very hectic and nervous, with a lot of corners and a few climbs on the circuit. The guys did a great job positioning me so I could save as much energy as possible for the sprint. In the end, I was able to contest the sprint and it was good enough for third place today. Overall, I think it was a solid race, good preparation for the next races, and we can take a lot of positives from it and build on this”, — said Max Kanter.

Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,

Monday, June 22, 2026

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