BMC smash Tour de Suisse time trial to put Küng into leader’s jersey

BMC Racing Team couldn’t have asked for a better start to the Tour de Suisse with a dominant performance in the team time trial to secure the win.

Stefan Küng was the first rider across the line in Frauenfeld to claim the first leader’s jersey of the race, after also wearing the jersey in 2017.

As the second to last team to roll down the ramp, BMC was chasing the provisional best time of 20’38” set by Team Sunweb.

After 10km, the team posted the best time by seven seconds and continued their perfect run into the line to stop the clock in 20,18″, to win by 20 seconds.

The team time trial was the first in almost three years, and first with BMC, for Richie Porte, who is making his debut at the Tour de Suisse, which made for a solid start to his General Classification ambitions.

“That was my first team time trial since 2015 when I was with Team Sky and they were beaten by BMC Racing Team. It was absolutely incredible. You really have to tip your cap today to Stefan Küng. He was like ten men. He was absolutely flying so, it was very impressive”, said Porte.

“I don’t think you are meant to feel good in a race like that. It’s been a while since I raced so I don’t really know where I am at but I mean it was just fantastic to come to the Tour de Suisse, the home of Andy Rihs, and be able to win the stage. I think we dedicate the win to Andy.”

https://youtu.be/7Tl1Nll-KsY?t=2746

Tour de Suisse 2018 – stage 1 results (Frauenfeld – Frauenfeld TTT):

General classification after stage 1: