Sagan denied record win as Kristoff takes stage seven at Tour de Suisse
Alexander Kristoff holds off Peter Sagan on stage seven of the Tour de Suisse to deny the Slovakian a record-breaking 12th Swiss stage win
Katusha's Alexander Kristoff outsprinted double stage winner Peter Sagan to claim the seventh stage of the Tour de Suisse in Düdingen.
The Norwegian opened his sprint early on the finishing straight, which ramped up slightly towards the end - a move which Sagan could not quite counter.
It marks Kristoff's 17th win of an impressive season, meaning he denied Sagan a record-breaking 12th Tour de Suisse stage.
The day's breakaway saw the presence of the rainbow jersey of Michal Kwiatkowski, joined by Orica-GreenEdge's Daryl Impey and BMC's Silvan Dillier.
The trio stayed away until the final two kilometres when Impey and Dillier cut their losses, but Kwiatkowski dug deep to hold off the charging peloton for another few hundred metres.
Sagan's Tinkoff-Saxo team led the bunch around the final corner into the finishing straight, but it was Kristoff who had the better positioning.
The Katusha rider sprung past Sagan's leadout man and towards the line, with the Slovakian unable to bridge the gap in the final metres.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Tour de Suisse 2015 stage seven: Biel/Bienne - Dudingen (164.4km)
1. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha, 3-38-07
2. Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff-Saxo, st
3. Davide Cimolai (Ita) Lampre-Merida, st
4. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC, st
5. Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ, st
6. Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto-Soudal, st
7. Sep Vanmarcke (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo, st
8. Michael Albasini (Swi) Orica-GreenEdge, st
9. Marco Marcato (Ita) Wanty-Groupe Gobert, st
10. JJ Rojas (Esp) Movistar, st
Other:
14. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky, at 2 seconds
Overall classification after stage seven
1. Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ, 17-42-07
2. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky, at 37s
3. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Ag2r-La Mondiale, at 50 seconds
4. Simon Spilak (Slo) Katusha, st
5. Miguel Angel Lopez (Esp) Astana, at 1-07
6. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana, at 1-22
7. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Giant-Alpecin, at 1-27
8. Steve Morabito (Swi) FDJ, at 2-29
9. Sebastian Reichenback (Swi) IAM Cycling, at 2-43
10. Sergio Henao (Col) Team Sky, at 2-46
Tour de France 2015 route preview
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.
-
Has cycling's most affordable pro bike brand just launched its aero machine?
Van Rysel set to equip Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale with new RCR-F in 2025
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Even if you ride a lot, here's why you shouldn't skip leg day at the gym
Think your legs get enough exercise? A little gym time can unlock big strength and performance gains.
By Greg Kaplan Published
-
‘There's no point to race for 50th place’: Peter Sagan explains why he’s a cycling esports ambassador but won’t compete
As a MyWhoosh ambassador, Sagan admires the sport’s evolution, but does he have the watts to compete with today’s virtual cycling stars?
By Christopher Schwenker Published
-
‘I feel lucky to be alive’: Magnus Sheffield speaks for the first time about Gino Mäder’s fatal crash
The American describes what he saw at the Tour de Suisse, eight months after the tragedy
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Peter Sagan given suspended prison sentence for drink driving offence
Three-time road world champion also banned from driving for three months, on eve of Tour de France
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Gino Mäder dies after Tour de Suisse crash, aged 26
'His talent, dedication, and enthusiasm were an inspiration to us all,' says Bahrain Victorious boss
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Eyeing the Olympic mountain bike race in Paris, Peter Sagan will retire from WorldTour racing at season's end
Finishing how he started, the former road world champion will race one last mountain bike-focused year in 2024
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Aleksandr Vlasov victorious on stage five of the Tour de Suisse as he moves into overall lead
The Bora-Hansgrohe rider launched a superior sprint in the final 200m as he just managed to hold onto the stage win
By Ryan Dabbs Published
-
Daryl Impey takes victory on stage four of the Tour de Suisse
The South African won his first race since the 2019 Tour de France
By Ryan Dabbs Published
-
Peter Sagan back to winning ways with victory on stage three of the Tour de Suisse
The Slovakian launched a powerful sprint to secure his first win in nine months
By Ryan Dabbs Published