Setback and progress for Visma | Lease a Bike: One rider out, another impresses in Switzerland

“It was a difficult day, but we got through it well,” said sports director Maarten Wynants on the team website. “Our plan was to be in the breakaway and from there compete for the win. Unfortunately that didn't work out.” Missing the early breakaway will have been particularly disappointing for the Dutch team, as Quinn Simmons went on to dominate the stage.

Visma | Lease a Bike was left with a bitter taste after the third stage in Switzerland. It lost a rider, Menno Huising. “He is still struggling with the after-effects of a fall in Dunkerque. We didn't want to take any risks with him,” said Wynants. The 21-year-old did not finish the stage and will therefore not start in the rest of this stage race.

Not everything went wrong for Wynants and the team. The Belgian is particularly proud of the fighting spirit shown by the team. "We wanted to defend Bart's third place, and we succeeded. Moreover, in the final we were nicely in it with the three of us." In the GC, Lemmen is still 27 seconds behind.

The performance of young rider Tijmen Graat (22) also caught the eye of the team management. "Tijmen is showing nice progress and did a good job of supporting the team. That he was still there is very nice."

Wynants expects a special stage on Wednesday. "It will be a battle to get in the breakaway. We are going to do our best for a nice result.” During the stage, the peloton will have to climb seriously for the first time, with a nine-kilometer climb at an average gradient of seven percent.