Joao Almeida won the time trial in the 10 km coast to conclude the Tour de Switzerland, which he won at the expense of French Kevin Vauquelin, who fought well until the end.
It would have taken a small miracle for Kevin Vauquelin to become the first Frenchman to win the Tour de Switzerland since Christophe Agnolutto in 1997. He did not take place. Opposed to Joao Almeida, much better climber than him, in the final time trial of 10 kilometers which concluded the race, the Arkéa-B & B Hotels runner could not resist the Portuguese of Uae Emirates, despite the 33 seconds in advance that he had on him when he was launched in last position.
From the first intermediate point of crossing, after 4.5 kilometers, Vauquelin already counted 21 seconds late. And on the finish line, it was with 1’40 on his rival that Almeida won. The 26 -year -old Portuguese, already winner of the Tour of the Basque Country in April and the Tour de Romandie in May, completes his collection with these 21st and 22nd professional victories and is one of the best specialists in a week. He is a big teammate on whom Tadej Pogacar will be able to rely in the next Tour de France, that Almeida had finished at the foot of the podium last year.
Alaphilippe fell
This final time trial was also fatal to another French, Julian Alaphilippe, who lost 3’49 on Almeida, and his place on the podium. The former double world champion finishes fifth in the final ranking, exceeded this Sunday by Oscar Onley and Felix Gall, excellent during the last time and in great shape before approaching the Tour de France. We still find three French in the top 10, since Clément Champoussin took 10th place. Next week will be devoted to the national championships, before the big loop that everyone is waiting for.
Cycling – UCI World Tour / Tour de Switzerland
8th step – Beckenried – Stockhütte (10km individual clm) – Sunday June 22, 2025
1- João Almeida (by / UAE Team Emirates-XRG) in 27’33
2- Felix Gall (AUT/Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale) at 24 ″
3- Oscar onley (GBR / Picnic-Postnl) at 1’11
4- Kevin Vauquelin (Fra / Arkea-B & B hotels) at 1’40
5- Harry Sweneny (from / EF Education Easyypost) to 1’54
6- Aleksandr Hair (Rus / Red Bull – Bora Hansgrohe) at 2’03
7- Ben O’Connor (Aus / Jayco-Alula) at 2’06
8- Will Barta (USA / Movistar) at 2’12
9- Finlay Pickering (GBR / Bahrain Victorious) at 2’14
10- Ilan Van Wilder (Bel / Sudal-Stap-Stap) at 1’07 ”
…
Final general classification
1- João Almeida (by / UAE Team Emirates-XRG) in 29:29’01
2- Kevin Vauquelin (Fra / Arkea-B & B hotels) at 1’07
3- Oscar onley (GBR / Picnic-Postnl) at 1’58
4- Felix Gal
5- Julian Alaphilippe (Fra/Tudor) at 3’57
6- Lennard Kämna (All / Lidl-Trek) at 4’52
7- Ben O’Connor (Aus / Jayco-Alula) at 5’08
8- Ilan Van Wilder (Bel / Sudal-Quit-Stap) at 6’16
9- Pablo Castrillo (ESP / Movistar) at 6’41
10- Clément Champoussin (FRA/XDS-Astana) at 8’30
…
