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Canada’s Nick Zukowsky jumps into first 2023 Tour de Suisse breakaway, nabs KOM jersey

Biniam Girmay of Eritrea takes the day's flowers

June 12, 2023
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Canadian Nick Zukowsky, perhaps inspired by the Giro d’Italia exploits of compatriot Derek Gee, comprised 50 percent of the 2023 Tour de Suisse’s first breakaway in its first road stage on Monday. Zukowsky, part of the wildcard, Switzerland-based Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, had an all-day adventure with Swiss rider Michael Schär of AG2R-Citroën, but it would be the Canadian who wore the KOM jersey at the end of the day. Eritrean sprint sensation Biniam Girmay took the day’s victory. The top placing Canadian was Hugo Houle in 18th.

Another Swiss, Stefan Küng of Groupama-FDJ, had beaten Remco Evenepoel and Wout Van Aert in Sunday’s opening time trial to pull on the first yellow jersey. On Monday Küng retained the race lead, five seconds clear of Evenepoel and six ahead of Van Aert.

Küng resplendent in yellow. Photo: Sirotti

The Course

Three Cat. 3 ascents were scattered over 173.7 km from Beromünster to Nottwil. The key question was whether or not the sprinters would make it up over the final climb, Oberarig, which peaked with 23 km to ride. A 48-km circuit containing Oberarig led to the finish. It was a lovely day for racing.

Zuke had been at the Tour de Suisse before with Rally in 2021, also getting in the second stage breakaway and wearing the KOM jersey for Stages 3 and 4. “It’s nice to be back. You might see me up the road today,” he said before the start. Off went the Canadian with Schär, the Canadian topping Cat. 3s Chommle and Schwarzenbach first. At the midpoint of the stage, the duo’s gap was 3:00.

Zukowsky and Schär at the midpoint of the stage.

Tim Merlier and Evenepoel’s Soudal-Quick Step and Kaden Groves’ Alpecin-Deceuninck drove the peloton. At the double bonus-second sprints Neuenkirch, the duo just rolled through, not biggie.

In the finishing circuit, a massive crash in the peloton put a lot of fellows on the pavement and chopped the field into chunks. After a moderate pace to let some riders latch back on, Jumbo-Visma ratched up the pressure on Oberarig. With the peloton rapidly closing in, Zukowsky toiled alone to reach the top to snag more points. He just made it.

Twenty-three kilometres remained. Did Jumbo shed enough sprinters? There were several attacks on the way to the intermediate points sprint, Van Aert prevailing.

In the sprint the Eritrean had the jam to earn his second win of the season. Arnaud Demare was runner-up and Van Aert came third.

Tuesday brings the mountains and the first summit finish of the 86th edition, Cat. 1 Villars-sur-Ollon.

2023 Tour de Suisse Stage 2
1) Biniam Girmay (Eritrea/Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) 3:53:37
2) Arnaud Demare (France/Groupama-FDJ) s.t.
3) Wout Van Aert (Belgium/Jumbo-Visma) s.t.
18) Hugo Houle (Canada/Israel-Premier Tech) s.t.
52) Nick Zukowsky (Canada/Q36.5) s.t.

2023 Tour de Suisse GC
1) Stefan Küng (Switzerland/Groupama-FDJ) 4:07:08
2) Remco Evenepoel (Belgium/Soudal-QuickStep) +0:05
3) Wout Van Aert (Belgium/Jumbo-Visma) +0:06