Antonia Niedermaier proved why she holds the world champion rainbow jersey in the the U23 Individual Time Trial when she set a blistering time on stage two of the Tour de Suisse. The 21-year-old German rider set the fastest time over the 15.7km course, with only four other riders able to surpass her.

The time trial started with a 5km-long flat section before heading straight into the 10.8km climb to the uphill finish. All of the GC contenders took a bike change from the time trial bike in the first kilometres to the road bike for the climb.

The stage was won by GC leader Demi Vollering (SDW). Antonia moved up five places into fifth in the overall at +2:40. Neve, Elise Chabbey and Kasia Niewiadoma are ninth, tenth and twelfth, respectively. Antonia is third in the Best Young Rider competition while Elise still holds the QOM jersey.

RIDER REACTIONS

Antonia Niedermaier: “The TT was hard and challenging, but I was highly motivated for today. I knew I could do quite a good race, and this climb suited me. I paced the 15.7km on feeling and listening to my body. I knew I had to save some energy for the climb, so I did the flat part a bit easier and focused on my position. Once I hit the climb, I went all in from the bottom to the top. I felt like I could give everything in the last two kilometres.”

“I am thrilled with my performance and fifth place on the stage. I knew I could do a great race, but I still wasn’t expecting to be in the top five on the stage, so that’s a bonus!”

Elise Chabbey: “It was a challenging stage. I was suffering from the beginning, and my legs were screaming after yesterday’s effort. I gave my best. I was far from the first riders, but time trials aren’t my strength and not something I spend a lot of time training for. For the next two days, we have nothing to lose. We don’t have anyone on the GC podium we need to protect, so it allows us to race aggressively the next two days.”

HOW TO WATCH

The Tour de Suisse can be followed on X with #tds2024 and #tourdesuisse. The live broadcast is on SRF 2, RTS 2, RSI 2, Eurosport, Discovery, and FloBikes.

Stage 3 | Monday, 17 June | VEVEY – CHAMPAGNE | 125.6km | Start 13:30CEST | Broadcast: 15:00CEST.

Stage 4 | Tuesday, 18 June | CHAMPAGNE – CHAMPAGNE | 127.5km | Start: 13:30CEST | Broadcast: 15:00CEST.

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