Tour de Suisse 2024: Traeen celebrates breakaway victory on the Gotthard Pass - Yates leads overall

Ten kilometres before the finish, Torstein Traeen (Bahrain-Victorious) launched his attack and distanced his rivals. The Norwegian then looked like a sure winner. However, because Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates) launched an attack from the group of classification riders four kilometres before the finish line and could not be held back afterwards, Traeen had to fear for the stage win once again. In the end, the Norwegian's energetic performance was rewarded, as he saved almost half a minute's lead at the finish. Adam Yates only finished second, but took the lead in the overall standings.

Traeen's tour de force is rewarded

15 kilometres into the race, the leading group of the day formed on the 4th stage of the Tour de Suisse. It comprised eight riders, including: Torstein Traeen. The 28-year-old put a lot of effort into the breakaway group and kept the peloton at bay for long stretches. After the first attacks came at the foot of the Gotthard Pass, Traeen was able to keep up with them all. Ten kilometres before the finish, he was only in the lead together with Roland Thalmann (Tudor Pro Cycling Team), who he was then able to playfully leave behind with an attack. Although he had already lost a lot of energy after many strenuous kilometres, he was also able to parry Adam Yates' attack. The Norwegian risked a lot on stage 4 and put in a lot of effort, but was rewarded with the stage win in the end.

"This victory is for Gino [Mäder]. We miss him and ride for him. The victory is something very special for me and my team." - Torstein Traeen in the winner's interview

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Tour de Suisse 2024: Results - the top 10 of stage 4

1. Torstein Traeen (Bahrain-Victorious) 4:10:21
2. Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates) +0:23
3. Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) +0:48
4. Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) +0:48
5. Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) +1:00
6. Oscar Onley (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL) +1:27
7. Enric Mas (Movistar) +1:27
8. Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) +1:27
9. Cian Uijtdebroeks (Visma | Lease a Bike) +1:27
10. Matthew Riccitello (Israel-Premier Tech) +1:27

The current standings in the overall standings

1. Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates) 11:50:08
2. Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) +0:26
3. Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) +0:26
4. Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) +0:49
5. Wilco Kelderman (Visma | Lease a Bike) +1:15
6. Oscar Onley (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL) +1:17
7. Enric Mas (Movistar) +1:17
8. Cian Uijtdebroeks (Visma | Lease a Bike) +1:21
9. Matthew Riccitello (Israel-Premier Tech) +1:25
10. Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) +1:42

>> The results of the Tour de Suisse at a glance

How the 4th stage of the Tour de Suisse 2024 went

Numerous riders wanted to join the breakaway group on the 4th stage from Rüschlikon to the Gotthard Pass. It took 15 kilometres and numerous unsuccessful attacks before the day's leading group was formed. It consisted of eight riders: Lilian Calmejane (Intermarche-Wanty), Torstein Traeen (Bahrain-Victrious), Michael Matthews (Team Jayco-AlUla), Bryan Coquard (Cofidis), Gerben Kuypers (Intermarche-Wanty), Roland Thalmann (Tudor Pro Cycling Team), Silvan Dillier (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Jan Sommer (Swiss national team).

Peloton lets the breakaway go by Traeen

In the peloton, the EF Education-EasyPost and Lidl-Trek teams, among others, were responsible for the chase. The escapees gained a lead of well over six minutes on the peloton, giving them hope of a stage win. At the foot of the Gotthard Pass, the lead was still six minutes, with Michael Matthews winning the sprint classification there.

The first attacks came at the front of the peloton on the long final climb: first Matthews attacked, then Dillier. The group fell apart, leaving only Torstein Traeen and Roland Thalmann at the front with 17 kilometres to go. Seven kilometres later, Traeen attacked and left the Swiss behind.

Yates irresistible

Traeen quickly pulled away. At this point, there were hardly any attacks in the peloton, which did not get any closer to the front. Five kilometres before the finish, however, things got serious: first the overall leader Alberto Bettiol (EF Education-EasyPost) left the group of classification riders, then Adam Yates took the lead. Nobody was able to follow the Brit. He literally flew up the climb, but missed out on the stage win by half a minute in the end. Behind him, last year's winner Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) was able to limit the damage, finishing third.