Bernal seals Tour de Suisse title as Carthy wins final stage

CTT

Egan Bernal wrapped up victory in the Tour de Suisse on Sunday in the perfect warm-up for his title at next month’s Tour de France.

The Team Ineos rider, who is the bookmakers’ second favourite for the Tour de France behind teammate and reigning champion Geraint Thomas, finished third in the 101.5km final stage around Goms to secure the title.

The 22-year-old topped the overall standings by 19 seconds ahead of Rohan Dennis, after tracking every move of the Bahrain-Merida man on Sunday, with the Australian finishing second on the day.

Hugh Carthy took the ninth-stage honours after a solo ride saw him cross the line a minute and two seconds before Bernal and Dennis.

Bernal rode last year’s Tour de France in support of Chris Froome, but this year is expected to be a title contender himself after the four-time champion was ruled out with injuries sustained in a horrific crash at the Criterium du Dauphine.

Thomas pulled out of the Tour de Suisse after crashing on stage four, but will be fit for the start of the second Grand Tour of 2019 on July 6.

Tour de Suisse 2019 – stage 9 results (Goms – Goms):

1	Hugh John Carthy (EF Education First)	3:01:49
2	Rohan Dennis (Bahrain-Merida)	+01’02”
3	Egan Bernal (Team INEOS)	,,
4	Mathias Frank (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale	+01’52”
5	Simon Spilak (Katusha-Alpecin)	,,
6	Carlos Betancur (Movistar)	+02’15”
7	Tiesj Benoot (Lotto Soudal)	,,
8	Domenico Pozzovivo (Bahrain-Merida)	,,
9	Patrick Konrad (Bora-hansgrohe)	,,
10	Jan Hirt (Astana)	,,

Tour de Suisse 2019 – final general classification:

1	Egan Bernal (Team INEOS)	27:43:10
2	Rohan Dennis (Bahrain-Merida)	+19”
3	Patrick Konrad (Bora-hansgrohe)	+03’04”
4	Tiesj Benoot (Lotto Soudal)	+03’12”
5	Jan Hirt (Astana)	+03’13”
6	Simon Spilak (Katusha-Alpecin)	+03’48”
7	Domenico Pozzovivo (Bahrain-Merida)	+04’14”
8	Carlos Betancur (Movistar)	+04’35”
9	Enric Mas (Deceuninck-Quick-Step)	+04’53”
10	Nicolas Roche (Team Sunweb)	+05’27”