cycling
Dane Skjelmose wins Tour de Suisse
Professional cyclist Mattias Skjelmose has won the Tour de Suisse. photo
© Gian Ehrenzeller/KEYSTONE/dpa
Two days after Gino Mäder died in an accident, Mattias Skjelmose surprisingly won the overall Tour de Suisse.
Two days after Gino Mäder died in an accident, Mattias Skjelmose surprisingly won the overall Tour de Suisse.
The Danish professional cyclist took third place in the final time trial over 25.7 kilometers and was only beaten by Spaniard Juan Ayuso and World Champion Remco Evenepoel from Belgium. In the general classification, Skjelmose handed the cushion, taking the yellow jersey ahead of Ayuso and Evenepoel.
Mäder had a fatal accident
After a minute’s silence on Saturday afternoon, only 113 drivers started. The Swiss cycling team Tudor Pro Cycling, the Belgian cycling team Intermarché-Circus-Wanty and Mäders Team Bahrain-Victorious had previously canceled their participation in the tour. In addition, after the tragic incident with Mäder, 17 drivers from other teams withdrew. The time trial between St. Gallen and Abtwil on Sunday went without any major incidents.
On Thursday, the 26-year-old Mäder fell into a ravine at high speed on the last kilometers of the fifth stage on the descent from the Albula Pass to the destination of La Punt and had to be resuscitated. A day later, the seriously injured Swiss died in hospital.