Tour de Suisse 2017: Spilak solos to victory and race lead on Tiefenbachferner

The 7th stage in the Tour de Suisse travels to the Tiefenbachferner in Sölden, Austria. The closing climb amounts to 14.2 kilometres, while it is averaging 9.5%. Simon Spilak soloes to victory ahead of Ion Izagirre. The Slovenian rides into yellow, almost 1 minute ahead of Caruso. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 7th stage 2017 Tour de Suisse

1. Simon Spilak (slo)
2. Ion Izagirre (spa) + 0.22
3. Joe Dombrowski (usa) + 0.36
4. Damiano Caruso (ita) + 1.04
5. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) s.t.
6. Jan Hirt (cze) + 1.07
7. Rein Taaramäe (est) + 1.33
8. Mikel Nieve (col) + 1.47
9. Rui Costa (por) + 1.53
10. Pello Bilbao (spa) + 2.40

11. Mathias Frank (swi) s.t.
12. Domenico Pozzovivo (ita) s.t.

GC after 7th stage
1. Simon Spilak (slo)
2. Damiano Caruso (ita) + 0.52
3. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 1.05
4. Domenico Pozzovivo (ita) + 2.28
5. Rui Costa (por) + 2.35
6. Mathias Frank (swi) + 2.51
7. Mikel Nieve (spa) + 2.54
8. Ion Izagirre (spa) + 3.51
9. Marc Soler (spa) + 4.07
10. Pelle Bilbao (spa) + 4.10

Race report
After a fast start a group of 18 riders break clear to race to a lead of 4 minutes, but on the lower slopes of the closing climb Wellens is the last attacker to be reeled in.

Leader Pozzovivo is dropped with 13 kms remaining. Frank, Bilbao, Costa and Soler are history, too.

Rein Taaramäe is setting the pace for his leader Spilak, while Dombrowksi is clinging on for dear life. Taaramäe delivers such a good job that Kruijswijk, Caruso and Izagirre are distanced.

Taaramäe stops his efforts with 9 kms left to climb and than it’s up to Spilak – first with Dombrowski, then alone. Kruijswijk leaves Caruso and Izagirre behind, but they return. With 5 kms remaining Izagirre leaves his companions to re-join Dombrowski. In the tunnel in the last kms he drops the American.

Spilak soloes to victory. Although Izagirre reduces the deficit to 25 seconds, the Slovenian victory was never in danger. Dombrowski finishes in third.