Mattias Skjelmose takes breakthrough victory at the Tour de Suisse, taking the Yellow Jersey and cracking Remco Evenepoel

Mattias Skjelmose has announced himself as a GC star by taking a brilliant summit-finish win against some tough competition at the Tour de Suisse.

Stage 3 of the Tour de Suisse sees the race heads into the mountains. The summit finish in Villars-sur-Ollon will be very important in the fight for the overall classification and will set the early situation for the race.

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Trying to pull off a memorable breakaway victory were four riders, including the King of the Mountains jersey wearer, Nickolas Zukowsky (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team). Alongside him was Lilian Calmejane (Intermarché - Circus - Wanty), Paul Ourselin (TotalEnergies) and Alexander Kamp (Tudor Pro Cycling Team).

The breakaway managed to hold off the peloton on the first big, long climb of the race, cresting with a small advantage. On the descent however, they were swiftly swallowed up by the bunch.

Once the breakaway was caught, gaps began to form as the peloton attacked the descent.

Heading into the final climb up to the line, Wout van Aert was one of the first riders to drop out the back of the bunch, dispelling any rumours of a GC ride.

So too out the back, more surprisingly were Sergio Higuita and Alexey Lutsenko. Both riders would have had GC ambitions but immediately struggled once Soudal - Quick-Step upped the pace.

When James Knox had finished his turn on the front of the peloton, Remco Evenepoel launched his move. Still 6.3 km from the top.

The only riders to react initially were Mattias Skjelmose and Felix Gall. With the trio beginning to put time into their rivals.

The race leader Stefan Kung was long gone at this point meaning there would be a new Yellow Jersey at the stage's end.

Behind the Evenepoel group, Pello Bilbao and Rigoberto Uran were leading the chase.

In the leading trio it was Felix Gall who looked the strongest and with the group behind closing, the AG2R Citroen Team leader attacked, with Skjelmose attempting to follow and Evenepoel showing no signs of a reaction.

As they entered the final kilometre, Gall had been joined by Skjelmose. Meanwhile, around 20 seconds down the road, Evenepoel was struggling to hold onto the group containing the likes of Uran, Bilbao and Wilco Kelderman with Juan Ayuso somewhere inbetween.

Skjelmose was the first to make a move for the win and despite a brave effort from Gall, there was nothing he could do to deny the Trek - Segafredo man the victory and the Yellow Jersey.

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