Tour de Suisse 2021 – Stage 1 [FULL STAGE] (ladies)

June 5, 2021

Tour de Suisse Women 2021 WE – Stage 1 – Frauenfeld – Frauenfeld : 114 km

The Tour de Suisse Women is a brand-new addition to the racing calendar for the 2021 season. It’s so new even that it was only officially announced a month before its start date on June 5th! The stage race was created in collaboration with the Swiss Cycling Federation and the organisers of the men’s Tour de Suisse, who both agreed at the start of this year that it was about time their country hosted a top-level women’s race. The inaugural edition has been assigned a 2.1 rank by the UCI. No less than 17 teams are expected to take to the startline of the first edition this year, including four WorldTour teams – Trek-Segafredo, FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope, Alé BTC Ljubljana and Canyon SRAM Racing. The debut edition will run for two days, starting a day before the eight-day men’s Tour de Suisse is due to kick off. Both stages will take place on a closed circuit around the Swiss city of Frauenfeld, the capital of the canton of Thurgau, with the first taking place on an undulating circuit and the second on a flatter circuit that’s loosely based on the time trial course that the men will race on a few hours later.

Swiss champion Elise Chabbey (Canyon-SRAM) won stage 1 of the Tour de Suisse Women. When she attacked from an elite front group with 15.5 kilometres to go, only Lizzie Deignan (Trek-Segafredo) followed her move, and the two cooperated well to extend their advantage to over 30 seconds.

Chabbey made Deignan open up the sprint and could accelerate in the former world champion’s slipstream, coming around on the last 50 metres to take the victory.

In the chase group, Marlen Reusser (Alé BTC Ljubljana) attacked Mikayla Harvey (Canyon-SRAM) and Jolanda Neff (Swiss National Team) just before the three-kilometre mark and soloed to third place.

“I still cannot believe it! She (Deignan) is one of the best sprinters in the world, it is crazy. I just trusted what the DS in the car told me and really followed that, and it worked. I started my sprint early, pretending to go and then going in her wheel, and then I went again. When I saw I was coming past her, I thought, ‘oh my God, I will do it!’ It is the biggest win of my career so far, I am really happy,” said Chabbey after the sprint.

“We want to defend the yellow jersey tomorrow. It will be a hard race, tomorrow is really technical, and it could be wet as well. I think it will be really messy, and it is important to stay in the front, but I am ready for it,” Chabbey concluded.

How it unfolded

The stage was held in and around Frauenfeld, consisting of a 38.1-kilometre circuit that was raced three times. The main difficulty was the Kalchrain climb, 1.8 kilometres at 7.8%, cresting 20.3 km from the finish line.

There was no real breakaway in the first half of the race, and on the second lap, six riders got away on the Kalchrain climb. Erica Magnaldi (Ceratizit-WNT) had to let go of the group after a few kilometres, then Deignan, Chabbey, Harvey, Reusser, and Neff could gradually extend their advantage to the chase group with Lucinda Brand (Trek-Segafredo), Tatiana Guderzo (Alé BTC Ljubljana), Olga Zabelinskaya (Cogeas Mettler Look), Letizia Borghesi (Aromitalia Basso Bikes Vaiano), Sina Frei (Swiss National Team), and Magnaldi.

Since most big teams were represented in front, there was no real impetus to chase, and entering the final lap, the chase group was 1:27 minutes behind the front, with the peloton at 2:34 minutes.

The front group continued to work together on the Kalchrain climb until Deignan attacked just before the top, but Harvey brought the rest of the group back. An acceleration by Reusser in the rolling kilometres that followed did not split the group, but when Chabbey attacked 15.5 km from the line, only Deignan followed.

With Harvey protecting her teammate’s chances, it was up to Neff and Reusser to chase, but at the ten-kilometre mark, the gap had reached 30 seconds as Chabbey and Deignan traded turns, both seemed happy to wait for the sprint.

Within six kilometres to go, Harvey attacked from the chase group to go for third place, starting a flurry of attacks by all three riders. None of them were successful. until Reusser finally got away just before the three-kilometre mark.

In the sprint, Chabbey outplayed the explosive Deignan, forcing her into the front and then coming around from behind to win the stage and take the yellow jersey. Chabbey also leads the points classification while Deignan leads the mountain classification, and Harvey is the best U25 rider.

Results :
1 Elise Chabbey (Swi) Canyon-SRAM Racing 3:01:25
2 Elizabeth Deignan (GBr) Trek-Segafredo
3 Marlen Reusser (Swi) Ale’ BTC Ljubljana 0:00:24
4 Jolanda Neff (Swi) Swiss Cycling 0:00:32
5 Mikayla Harvey (NZl) Canyon-SRAM Racing 0:00:37
6 Lucinda Brand (Ned) Trek-Segafredo 0:04:22
7 Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) Ale’ BTC Ljubljana
8 Erica Magnaldi (Ita) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
9 Sina Frei (Swi) Swiss Cycling
10 Letizia Borghesi (Ita) Aromitalia Basso Bikes Vaiano
11 Olga Zabelinskaya (Uzb) Cogeas Mettler Look Pro Cycling Team 0:04:24
12 Alexis Ryan (USA) Canyon-SRAM Racing 0:06:26
13 Eleonora Camilla Gasparrini (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
14 Marta Bastianelli (Ita) Ale’ BTC Ljubljana
15 Eugénie Duval (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
16 Audrey Cordon Ragot (Fra) Trek-Segafredo
17 Aigul Gareeva (Rus) Cogeas Mettler Look Pro Cycling Team
18 Tamara Dronova (Rus) Cogeas Mettler Look Pro Cycling Team
19 Nina Buijsman (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
20 Tereza Neumanová (Cze) Women Cycling Sport
21 Anna Trevisi (Ita) Ale’ BTC Ljubljana
22 Laura Asencio (Fra) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
23 Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Ita) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
24 Marie Le Net (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
25 Noemi Rüegg (Swi) Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime Women Cycling
26 Rasa Leleivyte (Ltu) Aromitalia Basso Bikes Vaiano
27 Linda Zanetti (Swi) BeCycling
28 Caroline Baur (Swi) Swiss Cycling
29 Katia Ragusa (Ita) A.R. Monex Women’s Pro Cycling Team
30 Linda Indergand (Swi) Swiss Cycling
31 Andrea Waldis (Swi) BeCycling
32 Nicole Koller (Swi) BeCycling
33 Marit Raaijmakers (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
34 Stine Borgli (Nor) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
35 Hannah Ludwig (Ger) Canyon-SRAM Racing
36 Ella Harris (NZl) Canyon-SRAM Racing
37 Pien Limpens (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
38 Antri Christoforou (Cyp) Women Cycling Sport
39 Julia van Bokhoven (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
40 Noemie Abgrall (Fra) Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime Women Cycling
41 Morgane Coston (Fra) Macogep Tornatech Girondins de Bordeaux
42 Federica Piergiovanni (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
43 Lara Krähemann (Swi) BeCycling
44 Alessia Vigilia (Ita) Women Cycling Sport
45 Ariadna Gutierrez Arzaluz (Mex) A.R. Monex Women’s Pro Cycling Team
46 Elena Pirrone (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
47 Hannah Barnes (GBr) Canyon-SRAM Racing
48 Alessandra Keller (Swi) Swiss Cycling
49 Alice Maria Arzuffi (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
50 Malgorzata Jasinska (Pol) Women Cycling Sport
51 Victorie Guilman (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
52 Inga Cesuliene (Ltu) Aromitalia Basso Bikes Vaiano
53 Femke Gerritse (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg 0:06:32
54 Barbara Malcotti (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service 0:06:33
55 Annika Liehner (Swi) BeCycling 0:06:35
56 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Trek-Segafredo 0:06:36
57 Ronja Blöchlinger (Swi) BeCycling 0:06:50
58 Jade Teolis (Fra) A.R. Monex Women’s Pro Cycling Team 0:11:07
59 Coralie Demay (Fra) Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime Women Cycling 0:12:08
60 Melanie Maurer (Swi) Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime Women Cycling 0:12:36
61 Daniela Schwarz (Swi) Velo67 0:12:38
62 Hannah Buch (Ger) Cogeas Mettler Look Pro Cycling Team
63 Fabienne Buri (Swi) Andy Schleck-CP NVST-Immo Losch
64 Balladyne Tritsch (Fra) Macogep Tornatech Girondins de Bordeaux
65 Martina Alzini (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
66 Lara Vieceli (Ita) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
67 Giulia Marchesini (Ita) Aromitalia Basso Bikes Vaiano
68 Nicole Hanselmann (Swi) Women Cycling Sport
69 Franziska Brauße (Ger) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
70 Sarah Rijkes (Aut) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
71 Alessia Patuelli (Ita) Ale’ BTC Ljubljana
72 Lena Mettraux (Swi) Andy Schleck-CP NVST-Immo Losch
73 Clara Copponi (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
74 Jade Wiel (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
75 Letizia Paternoster (Ita) Trek-Segafredo
76 Valentina Scandolara (Ita) Aromitalia Basso Bikes Vaiano
77 Kerry Jonker (RSA) Macogep Tornatech Girondins de Bordeaux 0:13:41
78 Aglaia Forrer (Swi) Velo67
79 Aline Seitz (Swi) Swiss Cycling
80 Gemma Sernissi (Ita) Aromitalia Basso Bikes Vaiano
81 Belle de Gast (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
82 Sandra Weiss (Swi) Andy Schleck-CP NVST-Immo Losch
83 Elynor Backstedt (GBr) Trek-Segafredo 0:19:47
84 Luce Bourbeau (Can) Macogep Tornatech Girondins de Bordeaux 0:21:23
85 Maria Vittoria Sperotto (Ita) A.R. Monex Women’s Pro Cycling Team
86 Jutta Stienen (Swi) Velo67 0:23:49
87 Michelle Stark (Swi) Velo67
88 Michelle Andres (Swi) Andy Schleck-CP NVST-Immo Losch
89 Désirée Ehrler (Swi) Andy Schleck-CP NVST-Immo Losch
90 Georgia Danford (NZl) Andy Schleck-CP NVST-Immo Losch
91 Judith Gerber (Swi) Velo67 0:23:53
DNF Callie Swan (Can) Macogep Tornatech Girondins de Bordeaux
DNF Severine Eraud (Fra) Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime Women Cycling
DNF Thalea Mäder (Ger) Cogeas Mettler Look Pro Cycling Team
DNF Luciana Roland (Arg) Women Cycling Sport
DNF Michelle Schätti (Swi) Velo67

General Classification after Stage 1 :
1 Elise Chabbey (Swi) Canyon-SRAM Racing 3:01:12
2 Elizabeth Deignan (GBr) Trek-Segafredo 0:00:04
3 Marlen Reusser (Swi) Ale’ BTC Ljubljana 0:00:33
4 Jolanda Neff (Swi) Swiss Cycling 0:00:43
5 Mikayla Harvey (NZl) Canyon-SRAM Racing 0:00:50
6 Lucinda Brand (Ned) Trek-Segafredo 0:04:33
7 Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) Ale’ BTC Ljubljana 0:04:35
8 Erica Magnaldi (Ita) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
9 Sina Frei (Swi) Swiss Cycling
10 Letizia Borghesi (Ita) Aromitalia Basso Bikes Vaiano
11 Olga Zabelinskaya (Uzb) Cogeas Mettler Look Pro Cycling Team 0:04:37
12 Alexis Ryan (USA) Canyon-SRAM Racing 0:06:36
13 Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Ita) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
14 Linda Indergand (Swi) Swiss Cycling 0:06:37
15 Eleonora Camilla Gasparrini (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service 0:06:39
16 Marta Bastianelli (Ita) Ale’ BTC Ljubljana
17 Eugénie Duval (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
18 Audrey Cordon Ragot (Fra) Trek-Segafredo
19 Aigul Gareeva (Rus) Cogeas Mettler Look Pro Cycling Team
20 Tamara Dronova (Rus) Cogeas Mettler Look Pro Cycling Team
21 Nina Buijsman (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
22 Tereza Neumanová (Cze) Women Cycling Sport
23 Anna Trevisi (Ita) Ale’ BTC Ljubljana
24 Laura Asencio (Fra) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
25 Marie Le Net (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
26 Noemi Rüegg (Swi) Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime Women Cycling
27 Rasa Leleivyte (Ltu) Aromitalia Basso Bikes Vaiano
28 Linda Zanetti (Swi) BeCycling
29 Caroline Baur (Swi) Swiss Cycling
30 Katia Ragusa (Ita) A.R. Monex Women’s Pro Cycling Team
31 Andrea Waldis (Swi) BeCycling
32 Nicole Koller (Swi) BeCycling
33 Marit Raaijmakers (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
34 Stine Borgli (Nor) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
35 Hannah Ludwig (Ger) Canyon-SRAM Racing
36 Ella Harris (NZl) Canyon-SRAM Racing
37 Pien Limpens (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
38 Antri Christoforou (Cyp) Women Cycling Sport
39 Julia van Bokhoven (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
40 Noemie Abgrall (Fra) Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime Women Cycling
41 Morgane Coston (Fra) Macogep Tornatech Girondins de Bordeaux
42 Federica Piergiovanni (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
43 Lara Krähemann (Swi) BeCycling
44 Alessia Vigilia (Ita) Women Cycling Sport
45 Ariadna Gutierrez Arzaluz (Mex) A.R. Monex Women’s Pro Cycling Team
46 Elena Pirrone (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
47 Hannah Barnes (GBr) Canyon-SRAM Racing
48 Alessandra Keller (Swi) Swiss Cycling
49 Alice Maria Arzuffi (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
50 Malgorzata Jasinska (Pol) Women Cycling Sport
51 Victorie Guilman (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
52 Inga Cesuliene (Ltu) Aromitalia Basso Bikes Vaiano
53 Femke Gerritse (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg 0:06:45
54 Barbara Malcotti (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service 0:06:46
55 Annika Liehner (Swi) BeCycling 0:06:48
56 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Trek-Segafredo 0:06:49
57 Ronja Blöchlinger (Swi) BeCycling 0:07:03
58 Jade Teolis (Fra) A.R. Monex Women’s Pro Cycling Team 0:11:20
59 Coralie Demay (Fra) Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime Women Cycling 0:12:21
60 Melanie Maurer (Swi) Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime Women Cycling 0:12:49
61 Daniela Schwarz (Swi) Velo67 0:12:51
62 Hannah Buch (Ger) Cogeas Mettler Look Pro Cycling Team
63 Fabienne Buri (Swi) Andy Schleck-CP NVST-Immo Losch
64 Balladyne Tritsch (Fra) Macogep Tornatech Girondins de Bordeaux
65 Martina Alzini (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
66 Lara Vieceli (Ita) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
67 Giulia Marchesini (Ita) Aromitalia Basso Bikes Vaiano
68 Nicole Hanselmann (Swi) Women Cycling Sport
69 Franziska Brauße (Ger) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
70 Sarah Rijkes (Aut) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
71 Alessia Patuelli (Ita) Ale’ BTC Ljubljana
72 Lena Mettraux (Swi) Andy Schleck-CP NVST-Immo Losch
73 Clara Copponi (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
74 Jade Wiel (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
75 Letizia Paternoster (Ita) Trek-Segafredo
76 Valentina Scandolara (Ita) Aromitalia Basso Bikes Vaiano
77 Kerry Jonker (RSA) Macogep Tornatech Girondins de Bordeaux 0:13:54
78 Aglaia Forrer (Swi) Velo67
79 Aline Seitz (Swi) Swiss Cycling
80 Gemma Sernissi (Ita) Aromitalia Basso Bikes Vaiano
81 Belle de Gast (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
82 Sandra Weiss (Swi) Andy Schleck-CP NVST-Immo Losch
83 Elynor Backstedt (GBr) Trek-Segafredo 0:20:00
84 Luce Bourbeau (Can) Macogep Tornatech Girondins de Bordeaux 0:21:36
85 Maria Vittoria Sperotto (Ita) A.R. Monex Women’s Pro Cycling Team
86 Jutta Stienen (Swi) Velo67 0:24:02
87 Michelle Stark (Swi) Velo67
88 Michelle Andres (Swi) Andy Schleck-CP NVST-Immo Losch
89 Désirée Ehrler (Swi) Andy Schleck-CP NVST-Immo Losch
90 Georgia Danford (NZl) Andy Schleck-CP NVST-Immo Losch
91 Judith Gerber (Swi) Velo67 0:24:06