After yesterday’s stage 1 time trial of a short prologue-like distance, the Tour de Suisse 2024 carried on with Monday’s stage 2 from Vaduz in Lichtenstein to Regensdorf in the outskirts of Zurich, Switzerland.

The 177.3-kilometer route was contested in relatively flat terrain, which appealed to the sprinters in the peloton – including Mark Cavendish (Astana Team) who was busy preparing for his participation in this year’s Tour de France, which will commence in Florence on June 29. The route, however, did feature two Category 2 climbs early in the stage and a Category 3 climb towards the finish.

A breakaway group escaped from the peloton shortly after the stage start in Vaduz. The group featured Gerben Kuypers (Intermarche-Wanty), Antoine Debons (Team Corratec – Vini Fantini), Roberto Gonzalez (Team Corratec – Vini Fantini), Luca Jenni (Swiss Cycling National Team), and Felix Stehli (Swiss Cycling National Team). Three of the five riders were Swiss. Meanwhile Ineos-Grenadiers riders were setting a relatively fast pace in the main peloton that allowed the five front men to have a time advantage of approximately four minutes with 125 kilometers remaining of today’s stage 2 of Tour de Suisse.

Belgian Yves Lampaert (Soudal-QuickStep) was wearing the race leader jersey after his impressive win in yesterday’s individual time trial.

When the Tour de Suisse peloton was climbing the Category 2 Ricken climb mid-stage, the front group had an advantage of 04:35 minutes. The Alpecin-Deceuninck team had moved to the front of the main peloton to set a controlling pace on the climb. 

Gonzalez was caught by the chasing peloton with 65 kilometers remaining.

Simone Petilli (Intermarche-Wanty) and Welay Berhe (Team Jayco-Alula) crashed in the rear part of the main peloton with fifty kilometers remaining of today’s stage of the Tour de Suisse 2024. At this point the front quartet was enjoying an advantage of approximately 02:45 minutes over the chasing peloton, which was led by sprinter teams eager to fight for a win in today’s expected mass sprint finale.

Stehli attacked from attacked from the front group with twenty-seven kilometers remaining. He was flying the Swiss colors in Swiss territory.

Mark Cavendish was surprisingly dropped from the peloton with twenty-four kilometers remaining. This was supposed to be his stage. Had the Manx missile not been training properly this season? Where was his motivation? At home? He had extended his professional career for an additional season to shine on the roads of France in the Tour de France 2024. Urgent action appeared ferociously needed. 

Stehli was caught by the three chasers in the breakaway group twenty-three kilometers from the finish line. His bright attack attempt had not been a success.

Cavendish rejoined the peloton with twenty-one kilometers remaining. Perhaps there was still hope for the British rider.

A crash occurred in the main peloton eighteen kilometers from the finish. The situation was hectic. The crash involved Attila Valter (Team Visma – Lease a Bike).

As fourteen kilometers remained of the stage, the breakaway group had a miniscule lead of just fifty-five seconds. The Category Three Regensberg climb now awaited the cyclists.

Jenni attacked solo from the breakaway group. The Swiss rider was eager to take a stage win on home turf – or at least a lead in the Best Climber Classification.

James Shaw moved to the front of the peloton with twelve kilometers remaining in support of his EF Education-EasyPost sprinter teammate.

Nairo Quintana was surprisingly dropped from the peloton. He would not have time to enjoy the view over Regensberg Castle.

Riders from the Alpecin-Deceuninck team moved to the front of the peloton with eleven kilometers remaining. They were clearly working for their sprinter to maximize his chances in a mass sprint at the end of today’s stage 2. 

All former breakaway optimists had now been reeled in by the main peloton that was riding at speeds of more than eighty kilometers per hour.

Alberto Bettiol attacked for EF Education-EasyPost in the final kilometers of the stage. 

Bettiol was caught with one kilometer left. 

Bryan Coquard launched a solo sprint in the final hundred meters of the stage. He built a gap, and no other rider was able to catch the furiously fast Frenchman who was riding for the Cofidis team. Michael Matthews finished second for Team Jayco-Alula, while Arnaud de Lie completed the stage podium for Lotto-Dstny. Cavendish was not seen.

Stay tuned to Roadcycling.com for additional coverage from Tour de Suisse 2024.

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