Tour de Suisse 2024: Simmons Wins Stage 3 | Cycling News
Quinn Simmons conquered Stage 3 of the Tour de Suisse, delivering a powerful solo victory and etching a poignant moment into cycling history. The U.S. national champion, riding with extra motivation, dedicated his win to the late Gino Mäder. The 195-kilometer race from Aarau to Heiden saw intense action, including a breakaway and crashes impacting riders like Geraint Thomas. Simmons’s decisive attack on the Knolhusen climb sealed his triumph. News Directory 3 covers the compelling details and emotional depth of this stage. Explore the race, with Simmons’s stunning performance, and see how the tour continues. Discover what’s next …
Quinn Simmons Secures Emotional Tour de Suisse Stage 3 Victory
Quinn Simmons of lidl-Trek claimed a powerful solo victory in Stage 3 of the Tour de Suisse, a 195-kilometer route from Aarau to Heiden.Simmons, the U.S. national champion, dedicated his emotional win to the late Gino Mäder, who died two years ago.
“It’s really hard being hear for me and seeing his mum at the start,” Simmons said. “Now I can pay my tribute, and for sure, I had extra motivation for today.” He also noted the win marked his first as U.S. national champion,making it doubly special.
The stage featured a breakaway that formed early, including Simmons, Nans Peters, max Walker, Emiel Verstrynge, Brent Van Moer, and Samuele Battistella. The group quickly gained a lead,prompting groupama-FDJ,along with Tudor,to control the peloton’s pace.
The challenging, hilly terrain in the final 40 kilometers sparked further attacks. Stefan Küng, Alessandor Verre, James Knox, and Marco Haller launched a counter-attack, but the peloton shut it down. A crash in the feed zone affected Junior Lecerf and Fabio christen, while Knox later abandoned the race.
Another incident saw Geraint Thomas of Ineos Grenadiers crash after a sharp turn. Despite initial pain, Thomas continued, with teammates assisting him in chasing back to the peloton.
As the breakaway approached the intermediate sprint in Hundwil, Simmons pushed the pace, determined to thin the group. On the Knolhusen climb, Simmons launched a solo attack, building a 30-second lead. Jan Christen attacked from the peloton,followed by Juanpa Lopez,but Simmons maintained his advantage.
Nielsen Powless attempted a late counter-attack from the peloton, but it was too late. Simmons held on to secure the stage victory, marking a notable moment in the Tour de Suisse and a heartfelt tribute to Mäder.