The victory of top Spanish talent Juan Ayuso in the 5th stage of the Tour de Suisse was overshadowed by serious crashes.
Mäder had to be resuscitated
According to Tour de Suisse director Olivier Senn, Swiss rider Gino Mäder and US rider Magnus Sheffield had to be taken to hospital. "Magnus Sheffield is less seriously injured according to our limited knowledge. Gino Mäder suffered more serious injuries, but I can't be more specific," Senn told Swiss media.
The organisers announced the details in the evening. According to them, both riders crashed on a descent at high speed. Sheffield was responsive when the race doctor arrived within two minutes. He was taken to hospital with bruises and a concussion. Mäder was worse off. According to the report, the Swiss man was lying motionless in the water. "He was immediately resuscitated and taken to Chur Hospital by rescue helicopter", it said. The severity of the injuries has not yet been conclusively clarified.
Talented Ayuso takes the stage win
The stage victory went to 20-year-old Ayuso from Barcelona. He won the mountain stage of the Tour of Switzerland over 211 kilometres and three difficult passes from Fiesch to La Punt single-handedly in impressive style, almost a minute ahead of the group of favourites. Ayuso moved up to third place and is now only 18 seconds behind Mattias Skjelmose.
The Dane reclaimed the yellow jersey on the fifth stage with a second place on the climb from Austrian Felix Gall, who is now eight seconds back in second place. Belgian world champion Remco Evenepoel, meanwhile, lost further time and is now 46 seconds back in fourth place in the overall standings.
The best German on Thursday was two-time German champion Maximilian Schachmann in 22nd place, 4:49 minutes behind the leader, putting the Berlin native in 16th place overall.
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