Demi Vollering beaten in sprint by strong Swiss rider Reusser after long two-woman time trial in Switzerland

With Vollering, Reusser, Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon//SRAM Zondacrypto), and Gaia Realini (Lidl–Trek), several key general classification contenders were at the start of the Swiss stage race on Thursday. Lidl–Trek also had top sprinter Elisa Balsamo at the start, although it was uncertain whether stage one would suit her.

The opening stage featured a tough start, including the climbs to Saanenmöser (5.3 km at 4.5%) and Jaunpass (8 km at 8.4%). However, the summit of that final climb was still more than 60 kilometers from the finish. From there, the course flattened out, setting the stage for a win from a strong breakaway rather than a traditional bunch sprint.

From the start it was climbing almost immediately. The pace in the peloton was high from the get-go, which meant no early breakaway had a chance to form. Instead, riders started dropping early on, just as the peloton was about to tackle the tough Jaunpass climb following the first ascent. That’s where the race really blew apart.

A relentless pace quickly thinned out the peloton, with the back door wide open. Attacks from Femke de Vries (Visma | Lease a Bike) and then Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance–Soudal) ensured things didn’t calm down for a moment, and more and more riders were dropped.

Vollering, Reusser, Gigante, Niewiadoma, and Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl–Trek) crested the climb together as a group of five, while more GC contenders followed not far behind. With over 63 kilometers still to go, the big question was what the top contenders would do next. For Reusser, there was no hesitation, the Swiss rider attacked on the descent.

With an incredibly strong effort, Demi Vollering closed the gap to her Swiss rival Marlen Reusser, bringing the two riders together at the bottom of the descent. From that point on, the terrain was mostly flat until the final stretch, where the road would kick up again. It effectively turned into a two-woman time trial toward the finish, as Reusser and Vollering steadily extended their lead.

Behind them, Kasia Niewiadoma, Niamh Fisher-Black, and Urška Žigart (AG Insurance–Soudal) grouped up and began the chase as a trio. Further back, many riders rejoined one another, forming a small peloton. The gap between the Vollering–Reusser duo and the three chasers was one minute, with the main group trailing another minute behind them.

Little by little, Vollering and Reusser extended their lead, which caused some nervous energy in the chase group behind. At 15 kilometers from the finish, Niewiadoma jumped away from Fisher-Black and Žigart, but she was still over a minute and a half behind the leading duo. However, the Polish Tour winner was soon reeled back in by the other chasers.

Vollering and Reusser had plenty of room to play tactics, holding a lead of more than two minutes with five kilometers to go. Would it come down to a sprint, or would one of them try a late attack? It turned out to be the former, though Reusser did attempt a move with just over two kilometers to go, but without success.

In the final kilometer, Vollering stopped taking turns on the front, and the two riders were visibly arguing as they nearly came to a standstill. Still mid-conversation, Vollering launched the sprint first, but the Swiss rider came around her and surged past to take the stage win. Vollering was narrowly beaten and also saw the first leader’s jersey go to Reusser.