Mountainous win "is unbelievable" yet career-changing for Nico Denz

Team DSM have had a very complicated season up to now, but this week at the Tour de Suisse they have been taking some success as they've taken their second stage win from a breakaway, this time via Nico Denz.

"I felt fantastic all day, I really have to thank the staff in the support car. They kept me cool with water and ice and that was the key for today," Denz said at the end of the day. With the riders continuously suffering from the heat wave that has impacted the race since the start, the German was keen on pointing out how crucial management was during the mountain passes that the peloton crossed today.

Denz was part of the 11-rider breakaway that went up the road, and when the attacks started in the final climb he managed to hang on to the wheel of Masnada: "On the final climb I tried to cling to stay with Fausto Masnada. He almost cracked me, but he was also on the limit himself. I knew I had a good finish in the legs," he added.

Eventually several riders came back, however the lack of power on the final ascent to distance the 28-year old was costly as he packed a strong sprint. Despite being a rouleur, he climbed like never before on the Moosalp today and took his first World Tour win. "Finally some guys came back from the front. Just that I was lost, because I launched my sprint quite late. However, it was enough and it is unbelievable," he concluded. It was a photo finish alongside Clément Champoussin, and although Denz initially thought he had lost it, after some minutes of waiting he was informed that he had taken the biggest win of his career.