Tour de Suisse 2021 – Stage 2 [FULL STAGE] (ladies)

June 6, 2021

Tour de Suisse Women 2021 WE – Stage 2 – Frauenfeld – Frauenfeld : 97 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.

Lizzie Deignan (Trek-Segafredo) won the Tour de Suisse Women, overhauling Elise Chabbey (Canyon-SRAM) on the second and final stage of the race in Frauenfeld.

Going into stage 2 with a four-second deficit on Swiss rider Chabbey, the 32-year-old targeted the intermediate sprints where she picked up five bonus seconds, finishing the race one second ahead of Chabbey.

The stage victory was contested between nine riders of a breakaway that had jumped away in the final 20 kilometres. In the sprint, and Marta Bastianelli (Alé BTC Ljubljana) beat Tereza Neumanová (Burgos Alimenta Women Cycling Sport) and Hannah Barnes (Canyon-SRAM) to win the stage.

“You know about the men’s Tour de Suisse, how much of an iconic race it is. Now we finally have a women’s race, so it is pretty special to be the first winner of it,” Deignan said after receiving the yellow jersey.

“You saw it was an exciting race, I think they should make it a bit longer next year. I would love to come back to defend this title,” she finished.

How it unfolded

The second and final stage of the women’s Tour de Suisse consisted of 11 laps of a flat circuit around Frauenfeld that would be used for the opening time trial of the men’s edition later in the day. The three intermediate sprints on the fourth, seventh, and tenth lap offered bonus seconds that would end up deciding the general classification.

After losing the sprint to Chabbey on stage 1, Deignan had promised to go for the bonus seconds to turn the GC around, and consequently, the Trek-Segafredo team kept the race together on the opening laps. Winning the first intermediate sprint ahead of teammate Lucinda Brand and Canyon-SRAM’s Alexis Ryan, Deignan picked up three bonus seconds, putting her only one second behind Chabbey.

The Swiss GC leader had crashed early in the race, and although she was able to continue the race, she could not contest the sprints. Trek-Segafredo led out Deignan again for the second intermediate sprint, and while Ryan came around to take first place, Deignan’s second place with Brand in third was enough to put the 2015 world champion into the GC lead by one second.

As Trek-Segafredo’s main goal for the stage had been accomplished, many riders now sought their fortune in attacks. The first one not to be reeled in right away was Eugénie Duval (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope) who got away with 29 km to go, with Katia Ragusa (AR Monex) bridging after a while. The duo held a 14-second advantage but was eventually caught on the antepenultimate lap.

Another flurry of attacks led to a front group of eight riders with 20 km to go: Lara Vieceli (Ceratizit-WNT), Duval, Nina Buysman (Parkhotel Valkenburg), Linda Indergand (Swiss National Team), Neumanová, Bastianelli, Barnes, and Alice Maria Arzuffi (Valcar-Travel & Service) had an advantage of 30 second with two laps to go as the peloton did not get a chase organised.

Finally, Trek-Segafredo took up the responsibility, reducing the gap to 11 seconds at the start of the final lap. It was here that Chabbey attacked several times, trying to get away from the peloton and Deignan, but Audrey Cordon-Ragot (Trek-Segafredo) in particular closed down the Swiss rider’s moves each time.

In the last six kilometres, Ragusa again jumped from the peloton and bridged to the front after a two-kilometre chase while the peloton now seemed content to let the breakaway take the stage.

On the finishing straight, Neumanová opened the sprint and stayed ahead for a long time until Bastianelli came around her on the last 75 metres to take victory.

In addition to the yellow jersey for the overall win, Deignan also won the points and mountain classifications while Mikayla Harvey (Canyon-SRAM) was the best U25 rider.

Results :
1 Marta Bastianelli (Ita) Ale’ BTC Ljubljana 2:13:31
2 Tereza Neumanová (Cze) Women Cycling Sport
3 Hannah Barnes (GBr) Canyon-SRAM Racing
4 Linda Indergand (Swi) Swiss Cycling
5 Eugénie Duval (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
6 Lara Vieceli (Ita) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
7 Nina Buijsman (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
8 Katia Ragusa (Ita) A.R. Monex Women’s Pro Cycling Team
9 Alice Maria Arzuffi (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
10 Clara Copponi (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope 0:00:06
11 Elizabeth Deignan (GBr) Trek-Segafredo
12 Martina Alzini (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
13 Eleonora Camilla Gasparrini (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
14 Letizia Borghesi (Ita) Aromitalia Basso Bikes Vaiano
15 Tamara Dronova (Rus) Cogeas Mettler Look Pro Cycling Team
16 Marie Le Net (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
17 Maria Vittoria Sperotto (Ita) A.R. Monex Women’s Pro Cycling Team
18 Lucinda Brand (Ned) Trek-Segafredo
19 Jolanda Neff (Swi) Swiss Cycling
20 Rasa Leleivyte (Ltu) Aromitalia Basso Bikes Vaiano
21 Lara Krähemann (Swi) BeCycling
22 Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Ita) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
23 Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) Ale’ BTC Ljubljana
24 Anna Trevisi (Ita) Ale’ BTC Ljubljana
25 Caroline Baur (Swi) Swiss Cycling
26 Marlen Reusser (Swi) Ale’ BTC Ljubljana
27 Andrea Waldis (Swi) BeCycling
28 Letizia Paternoster (Ita) Trek-Segafredo
29 Nicole Koller (Swi) BeCycling
30 Lena Mettraux (Swi) Andy Schleck-CP NVST-Immo Losch
31 Elise Chabbey (Swi) Canyon-SRAM Racing
32 Noemi Rüegg (Swi) Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime Women Cycling
33 Femke Gerritse (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
34 Alexis Ryan (USA) Canyon-SRAM Racing
35 Alessandra Keller (Swi) Swiss Cycling
36 Stine Borgli (Nor) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
37 Franziska Brauße (Ger) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
38 Belle de Gast (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
39 Linda Zanetti (Swi) BeCycling
40 Inga Cesuliene (Ltu) Aromitalia Basso Bikes Vaiano
41 Hannah Ludwig (Ger) Canyon-SRAM Racing
42 Laura Asencio (Fra) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
43 Aline Seitz (Swi) Swiss Cycling
44 Annika Liehner (Swi) BeCycling
45 Victorie Guilman (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
46 Marit Raaijmakers (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
47 Mikayla Harvey (NZl) Canyon-SRAM Racing
48 Ronja Blöchlinger (Swi) BeCycling
49 Pien Limpens (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
50 Erica Magnaldi (Ita) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
51 Ariadna Gutierrez Arzaluz (Mex) A.R. Monex Women’s Pro Cycling Team
52 Sina Frei (Swi) Swiss Cycling
53 Ella Harris (NZl) Canyon-SRAM Racing
54 Federica Piergiovanni (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
55 Michelle Stark (Swi) Velo67
56 Olga Zabelinskaya (Uzb) Cogeas Mettler Look Pro Cycling Team
57 Malgorzata Jasinska (Pol) Women Cycling Sport
58 Jade Wiel (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
59 Elena Pirrone (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
60 Coralie Demay (Fra) Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime Women Cycling
61 Audrey Cordon Ragot (Fra) Trek-Segafredo
62 Barbara Malcotti (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
63 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Trek-Segafredo
64 Aigul Gareeva (Rus) Cogeas Mettler Look Pro Cycling Team 0:04:45
65 Kerry Jonker (RSA) Macogep Tornatech Girondins de Bordeaux 0:04:47
66 Nicole Hanselmann (Swi) Women Cycling Sport 0:04:49
67 Sarah Rijkes (Aut) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
68 Daniela Schwarz (Swi) Velo67 0:09:40
69 Hannah Buch (Ger) Cogeas Mettler Look Pro Cycling Team
70 Judith Gerber (Swi) Velo67
71 Jutta Stienen (Swi) Velo67
72 Michelle Andres (Swi) Andy Schleck-CP NVST-Immo Losch 0:09:42
73 Alessia Vigilia (Ita) Women Cycling Sport
74 Julia van Bokhoven (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg 0:09:46
75 Elynor Backstedt (GBr) Trek-Segafredo
DNF Noemie Abgrall (Fra) Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime Women Cycling
DNF Aglaia Forrer (Swi) Velo67
DNF Balladyne Tritsch (Fra) Macogep Tornatech Girondins de Bordeaux
DNF Morgane Coston (Fra) Macogep Tornatech Girondins de Bordeaux
DNF Luce Bourbeau (Can) Macogep Tornatech Girondins de Bordeaux
DNF Gemma Sernissi (Ita) Aromitalia Basso Bikes Vaiano
DNF Valentina Scandolara (Ita) Aromitalia Basso Bikes Vaiano
DNF Giulia Marchesini (Ita) Aromitalia Basso Bikes Vaiano
DNF Sandra Weiss (Swi) Andy Schleck-CP NVST-Immo Losch
DNF Désirée Ehrler (Swi) Andy Schleck-CP NVST-Immo Losch
DNF Antri Christoforou (Cyp) Women Cycling Sport
DNF Jade Teolis (Fra) A.R. Monex Women’s Pro Cycling Team
DNF Alessia Patuelli (Ita) Ale’ BTC Ljubljana
DNF Fabienne Buri (Swi) Andy Schleck-CP NVST-Immo Losch
DNF Georgia Danford (NZl) Andy Schleck-CP NVST-Immo Losch
DNS Melanie Maurer (Swi) Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime Women Cycling

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