Peter Sagan won the third stage of the Tour De Suisse this afternoon.
A short 107km stage from Brig-Glis to Grindelwald on a wet and miserable day out on the course , twenty six riders comprising of Jakob Fuglsang, Andy Schleck, Jens Voigt, Michael Albasini, Mads Christensen, Jan Bakelants, Francis de Greef, Greg van Avermaet, Laurens ten Dam, Jack Bobridge, Christian Vandevelde, Giampaolo Caruso, Alberto Losada, Jose Rojas Gil, Peter Sagan, Dominik Nerz, Christiano Salerno, Enrico Gasparotto, Tanel Kangert, Jorge Azanta Soto, Kevin de Weert, Dries Devenyns, Ben Gastauer, Wouter Poels and South African Daryl Impey, got clear.
They were four minutes ahead as the race went over a ravine at the Reichenbach Falls, where Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty were said to have plunged, some 27kms from the finish.
Jan Bakelants broke away, getting fifty seconds clear of the chasing pack which was starting to fracture. However, he was caught with twenty kms to go.
Finish line at Grindelwald
Andy Schleck was leading the way up the Grosse Scheidegg climb which comprises of some steep sections, up to 11 percent, a flatter section in the middle, and then a steep climb up to the top, close to the snow covered Iger mountain.
There was sunshine for the riders who had shed their rainwear and were making their way up the single track road.
With 10kms to go, Damiano Counago who had been steadily passing riders for the last eight kms, got to the front of the field and was first over the Grosse Scheidegg.
The descent down was tricky to say the least with hairpins and switchbacks aplenty. Solerno went down but was back on his bike.
Peter Sagan caught up with Counago and took the stage in a time of 3hr 09 and 47 seconds. Counago now takes over the lead of the race.
Picture courtesy and copyright of Covsupport News Service/Burte Hoppe