Lucinda Brands wins Stage 1 in Tour de Suisse 19.06.2022: The race was on from the gun at the Tour de Suisse with a short 46-kilometer circuit race that kicked off the four-day Women’s Tour de Suisse. With 10 laps of 4.6-kilometers to cover, the attacks began immediately, but with a peloton on fresh legs

The race was on from the gun at the Tour de Suisse with a short 46-kilometer circuit race that kicked off the four-day Women’s Tour de Suisse.
 


With 10 laps of 4.6-kilometers to cover, the attacks began immediately, but with a peloton on fresh legs, it was a few laps before a trio could establish a gap.
 


When Clara Koppenburg (Cofidis) and Pauliena Rooijakkers (Canyon/SRAM) moved up the road with 30 kilometers remaining, Lucinda Brand was quick to react and accelerated out of the bunch.
 


It was a strong three riders, and the alarm bells sounded behind. The pursuit was on, but the three riders never relented and the short circuit made it difficult to establish a chase. The gap steadily grew.  
 


“It was tough [in the breakaway] at first, but then you get into a rhythm. It probably was easier than riding in the bunch where you have to fight constantly for position; there’s a lot of braking and pushing, which makes the lap harder. We found a good pace and worked well together,” explained Brand.
 


On the penultimate lap a six-rider chase group moved clear from the bunch. The trio took the bell for the final lap, as the chasers moved to within 36 seconds.  But the organization in the chase group slowly dissolved, and the three leaders never relented.  
 


Lucinda Brand had no problem out-kicking her two companions and afterward admitted it was easier than expected.
 


“It looked like not everyone was sure that it was the last lap,” she explained. “And then I started doubting, to be honest, but luckily I was right,” she smiled.
 


The peloton absorbed the disorganized chase group, and 50 seconds later Trek-Segafredo teammate Elisa Balsamo took the sprint for 4th place.
 


“It was a short but hard and crazy race,” explained Balsamo. “We knew it was a good circuit for a breakaway, and Lucinda was the perfect rider for this. So it was a perfect scenario with Lucinda in the break, so I just tried to stay near the front all race, and then make a good sprint.”
 


Lucinda Brand will wear the leader’s jersey into the Stage 2 time trial tomorrow as she looks to defend her race lead. But with the climbs in the final two days, she knows she will have her work cut out.  
 


“Of course, I will try and defend the jersey, but I am not sure how far I can, especially on the last day when we finish uphill,” she admitted. “The third day will be hard already, and of course, the time trial. Climbing-wise it’s hard, and we will see how it goes. But for sure I am going to try.”



 
Trek Bicycle Corporation