Vlasov gets yellow at the Tour of Switzerland with a stage win
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Geneva (AFP) – Russia’s Aleksandr Vlasov won stage five of the Tour of Switzerland on Thursday, securing the overall leader’s jersey.
Bora-Hansgrohe’s Vlasov, 26, who has been racing as a neutral since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, beat ex-Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas in a group of four.
American Neilson Powless was second, Denmark’s Jakob Fulgsang third after the 193km race that ended in Novazzano near the Italian border.
Tour de Romandie champion Vlasov takes the yellow jersey from Steve Williams, who has held it since Sunday’s opening stage, and sits six seconds ahead of Israel Premier-Tech’s Fulgsang in the standings.
“I tried to put as much pressure as possible. Everyone was there,” Vlasov told the Swiss broadcaster SRF.
“Being in the lead means more work for our team tomorrow. We’ll try to do our best,” he added.
Vlasov said in March he was opposed to the invasion of his country and said his focus is currently on cycling following the win.
“I’m in Europe and always with my team,” he told SRF.
“I don’t watch the news or spend my time on social media, I just race,” he added.
Previously, the peloton in Switzerland was weakened when Jumbo-Visma withdrew from their team due to a Covid-19 outbreak.
Thomas’ Ineos teammate Adam Yates also retired from the race after returning a positive test.
Friday’s sixth stage heads west from Locarno to the Moosalp with 180 kilometers of racing, including a highly categorized climb at the Nufenen Pass, which is 2,478 meters above sea level.
© 2022 AFP