Runner-up spots for Almeida and Molano in Suisse and Belgium

João Almeida produced another admirable performance at the Tour de Suisse, with the Portuguese going on the front foot to take second place on stage 5 and move up to third overall. Narrowly pipped to the line by Oscar Onley (Picnic-PostNL), the UAE Team Emirates-XRG man benefited from the work of his teammates to make further inroads in the general classification battle.

Having lost a significant amount of time on stage 1, Almeida has been on a mission to recoup valuable seconds in recent days. With the help of teammates such as Mikkel Bjerg, Jan Christen and António Morgado, the 26-year-old grabbed the race by the scruff of its neck on stage 5.

Setting an infernal pace on the Passo del San Bernardino, the Emirati squad whittled the peloton down in size, thereby eliminating the possibility of the breakaway taking the day’s honours. With two ascents of the savagely steep Castaneda to come, it would be up to Almeida to make the difference.

Recognising his deficit in the GC, Almeida went on the attack on the penultimate ascent, with only six fellow riders able to match his pace over the summit. With GC rival Ben O’Connor (Jayco AlUla) distanced, things looked good for Almeida, but he was put under pressure by the aggression of Onley. With 3km of the final climb to ride, the Scotsman went on the attack and seemed to have dropped Almeida from contention.

However, as is characteristic of the Portuguese, the 26-year-old found his rhythm and little by little, passed an envoy of riders before bridging up to Onley. With both riders at the head of the race, Almeida decided to bear the bulk of the pace-setting, with the UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider standing to have the most to gain in the general classification.

With Almeida doing the brunt of the work, Onley was able to round the 26-year-old in the final few hundred metres, thereby denying UAE Team Emirates-XRG of a second win in succession. Not to be concerned by Onley’s moment of glory, Almeida battled to the line and ensured that he would move up to third place in the general classification.

With an all-important time trial on the horizon over the weekend, Almeida sits in a strong position, just 39 seconds down on the race lead of Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels).

Almeida: “We gave our best, I was not feeling great today. I was not 100% but it is what it is. I was just managing whatever I had. I could not go faster than that so I just kept going like that, so I just kept going my pace and in the end, I was very close to winning the stage. But in the end, Oscar deserved it.

“Actually, I think I did a mistake [in the sprint]. I was in my small chain ring I think and I accelerated with 200m to go. He passed me, then I was coming back but the line was there and it is what it is. [The GC] is possible, it is definitely more close, so we need to keep fighting.”

Tour de Suisse 2025 stage 5 results

1. Oscar Onley (Picnic-PostNL) 4:33:28

2. João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) s.t

3. Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) +23″

General classification after Tour de Suisse stage 5

1. Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) 20:12:10

2. Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor Pro Cycling) +29″

3. João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +39″

Meanwhile, over at the Baloise Belgium Tour, Sebastián Molano claimed a second runner-up spot in as many days, propelling the Colombian sprinter into the lead of the race. Taking over the purple leader’s jersey from Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step), Molano delivered another consistent performance in Belgium, only being pipped to the stage victory by Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin-Deceuninck.

Earlier in the stage, a six-man breakaway had gone clear of the peloton, but led by the might of Soudal Quick-Step and Alpecin-Deceuninck, the final lap of a local circuit beckoned to decide the stage winner.

Piloted into place by Rune Herregodts, Filippo Barconinci, Florian Vermeersch and Rui Oliveira, Molano entered the final few hundred metres in an ideal position. The Colombian fired up his engine and accelerated out of his saddle, looking likely to win the stage. However, in the final 100m, Philipsen manoeuvred his way out of the slipstream and powered his way to victory.

Despite being forced to settle for second for the second day in a row, Molano could take to the podium with pride, having become the new leader of the Baloise Belgium Tour.

Baloise Belgium Tour 2025 stage 2 results

1. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) 4:07:27

2. Sebastián Molano (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) s.t

3. Jenno Berckmoes (Lotto) s.t

General classification after Baloise Belgium Tour stage 2

1. Sebastián Molano (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 8:30:58

2. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) +1″

3. Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) +2″