An excellent Rui Costa takes second place overall

Rui Costa, UAE Team Emirates, confirmed his good feelings in the Swiss stage race, getting on the final podium for the fourth time after the third places of 2012, 2013 and 2014.

The Portuguese cyclist closed the final individual time trial in seventh position with a gap to the stage and eventual overall winner Pimoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma).

He climbed onto the final podium together with the Slovenian and third place Geraint Thomas (Team Ineos).

Rui Costa: “The course of this time trial was very interesting and selective. The last part was very fast and managing my energy well along the way, maintaining the necessary forces to be able to run the whole six kilometres with the road slightly downhill, was fundamental. 

“Placing seventh today in the time trial and winning the final second place is big for my morale. To beat Roglic like this was practically impossible, so my second takes on more value. Now I want to continue to work well and try to get the most out of the Tour of Switzerland.”

For the Emirates team, it is the 16th second place in 2019, in addition to 11 victories and 11 third places.

Order of arrival fifth stage ITT

1 Primoz Roglic (Slo) Team Jumbo-Visma 0:19:58

2 Victor Campenaerts (Bel) Lotto Soudal +13’’

3 Fillippo Ganna (Ita) Team Ineos +15’’

7 Rui Costa (Por) UAE Team Emirates +37’’

Final general classification
1 Primoz Roglic (Slo) Team Jumbo-Visma 15:25:11

2 Rui Costa (Por) UAE Team Emirates + 49’’

3 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Ineos + 1’12’’