Tour de Suisse 2024: Yves Lampaert takes stage 1 ITT with gaps between GC riders kept short

Soudal - Quick-Step's Yves Lampaert has taken the victory on a short and sharp opening stage time-trial at the 2024 Tour de Suisse, moving into the early race lead in the process by three seconds from Stefan Bissegger.

Among the early names out the start ramp, there were some impressive times from the likes of UAE Team Emirates' Joao Almeida (5:12), INEOS Grenadiers' Ethan Hayter (5:09.47) and EF Education-EasyPost's Swiss national time-trial champion, Stefan Bissegger (5:08.76), but as the TV cameras started rolling, it was the Belgian of Soudal - Quick-Step, Yves Lampaert who was sitting in the hot seat thanks to his effort of 5:05.58.

Tom Pidcock crossed the line 17 seconds down for the INEOS Grenadiers, Finn Fisher-Black crossed the line 12 seconds down, Lidl-Trek leader and defending Tour de Suisse champion, Mattias Skjelmose clocked 5:16.74. Groupama - FDJ's Swiss time-trial powerhouse Stefan Kung had high hopes for the stage but had to settle for the top 10 placings with his effort of 5:16.07 and Movistar Team duo Enric Mas and Nairo Quintana clocked 5:24 and 5:33 respectively.

As the rain started to fall for those making their efforts against the clock in the second half of the afternoon, a number of riders actually had difficulty getting down the start ramp, slipping on the wet boards. Also as an added factor of the rain beginning to fall, the times of the riders began to notably become slower, with Lampaert looking more and more likely to be taking the stage win.

UAE Team Emirates' prospect Jan Christen then came close in front of his own fans, with a very solid effort of 5:18, just tying up somewhat before the line. Three time Tour de Suisse winner Rui Costa made a solid if unspectacular start, stopping the clock at 5:26.48.