Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ) won the time trial in the opening stage of the 2023 Tour de Suisse on Sunday.
The prestage favourites Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) and Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) had to settle for second and third respectively behind the Swiss rider.
“Just this morning a friend of mine said: ‘how long have you been in the top five of time trials?’ We had to go back two years to find one where I wasn’t in the top five,” said Küng.
“In the last times I was always missing out and it was so close, so it’s such a big relief to win here in front of the home crowd. With my family, my wife, my son, it’s just amazing.”
“From the Giro to the Tour de Suisse, it was quite a short time. I did some altitude training and I was working really really hard, and then I just felt really tired Wednesday. Since then I was just focussing on recovery, so I was not 100% self-confident,” he said.
“But I saw all my friends and family here, which for sure gave me some extra motivation. I knew I could do well, but I also didn’t want to put expectations too high. But I always go full gas, and today it worked out once again.”
Stefan Küng remporte le premier chrono du Tour de Suisse, Remco Evenepoel termine 2ème, Wout Van Aert 3ème ! ? #RTLsports
Le Tour de Suisse est à suivre chaque jour en direct sur Proximus Pickx + Sports. pic.twitter.com/xWGRFEzhYU
— RTL sports (@RTLsportsbe) June 11, 2023
