Refresh
2026-06-19T10:54:12.925Z
And a last-minute add on that it’s just come through that Lauren Dickson did complete the stage. She was over 15 minutes down, but as her crash took place inside the five-kilometre safety zone, her second place overall remains as stands. No update yet, though, regarding her possible injuries.
2026-06-19T10:50:33.312Z
That wraps it up for Cyclingnews live coverage of the Tour de Suisse Women stage 3, but there will be more coverage tomorrow and through to the end of the race.
2026-06-19T10:49:42.331Z
So what’s happening tomorrow in the Tour de Suisse Women?
The one time trial of the five-day race is 23.7 kilometres long, starting and finishing in Aarburg. Undulating terrain but no classified climbs, this is the clear chance for the time triallers to gain some time before Sunday’s toughest mountain stage, the last of the race.
2026-06-19T10:47:39.913Z
Meantime Femke De Vries (Visma-Lease a Bike) continues to lead in the points and mountains classifications, with teammate Sarah Van Dam heading the BYR competition.
2026-06-19T10:46:37.155Z
A shot of race leader Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) during the stage. She’ll be in yellow again tomorrow.
2026 Tour de Suisse Women stage 3: race leader Elisa Longo Borghini during the day’s racing (Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-06-19T10:41:51.353Z
The race website now reports Marlen Reusser (Movistar) is back on her top five placing on GC after some initial confusion to her placing as she finished a little down on the remainder of the peloton after things split apart late on. However, there is no sign (yet) of whether Lauren Dickson (FDJ United-SUEZ) finished the course, and whether she’ll retain her second place overall after that late crash just under five kilometres from the line.
2026-06-19T10:37:41.569Z
Some words from the stage 3 winner Zoe Bäckstedt (Canyon-SRAM):
“My whole team did an amazing job, and truly I couldn’t have done it without them, so credits to them. I was a bit nervous when that break went and we didn’t have anyone in it, but we controlled it quite nicely and managed to bring them back with just enough time before the finish.”
“Then my teammates did an amazing leadout for me.”
[Tomorrow’s TT stage] is going to be super hard with the heat, it’s been really hard every with the heat, also the climbing, but I’m looking forward to tomorrow, it should hopefully be a good day for me, but you never know what can happen.”
2026-06-19T10:27:33.499Z
Here’s our full analysis and report on today’s stage:
Tour de Suisse Women: Zoe Bäckstedt stuns the field with scorching long-range sprint to win stage 3
2026-06-19T10:25:21.816Z
And don’t forget that Bäckstedt is another great option for tomorrow’s TT as well.
2026-06-19T10:23:57.736Z
Niewiadoma gave her the initial starting point to go for it, but after surfing wheels of her rivals, it was Backstedt’s decision to surprise her rivals and go for her second win of the season, her first at WorldTour level in a bunch sprint and the ninth of her career.
2026-06-19T10:21:53.845Z
Predictions of a bunch sprint were correct, then, but that eight-rider move was a very dangerous one with Le Court and Berthet in it, and the peloton had to work hard to get everything under control.
2026-06-19T10:19:17.847Z
No change to the overall lead, with Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) continuing atop the GC for a second straight day.
2026-06-19T10:18:39.507Z
Lily Williams (Human Powered Health) and Shari Bossuyt (AG Insurance-Soudal) came home in second and third.
2026-06-19T10:14:53.169Z
And here’s a first shot of the winner
Tour de Suisse Women stage 3: Zoe Bäckstedt wins (Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-06-19T10:11:45.327Z
Riders coming across the finish in dribs and drabs, looks like there could have been some kind of incident late on, so the bunch was smaller than usual in what was a chaotic finale.
2026-06-19T10:09:56.077Z
She got a tremendous leadout from teammate Kasia Niewiadoma and went from distance, winning by several bikelengths. Simply spectacular.
2026-06-19T10:08:49.871Z
Winner
Zoe Bäckstedt (Canyon-SRAM) wins stage 3 of the Tour de Suisse Women
2026-06-19T10:06:15.702Z
And she gets the win.
2026-06-19T10:05:57.918Z
The bunch move into the final straight, Zoe Backstedt going from distance
2026-06-19T10:05:24.355Z
Kim Le Court-Pienaar working for Bossuyt
2026-06-19T10:05:06.965Z
Canyon SRAM now take over
2026-06-19T10:04:34.914Z
Meanwhile Liv Jayco AlUa are leading the sprint into the final kileomtre
2026-06-19T10:04:16.822Z
Two kilometres to go
Dickson was inside the five kilometre safety zone, so her GC position should be safe.
2026-06-19T10:03:35.757Z
Unclear how the crash happened, around two or three riders down, but it looked like Dickson struck the barriers.
2026-06-19T10:02:40.473Z
Around 60 riders or so in the front group
2026-06-19T10:01:50.565Z
Crash: Lauren Dickson, second overall, falls heavily, but gets up quickly.
2026-06-19T10:01:13.183Z
Broad, dry, country roads for now, very straight so relatively easy for the bunch to keep things under control.
2026-06-19T10:00:33.391Z
5 kilometres to go
Human Power, working for Lily Williams are also on the front.
2026-06-19T09:59:31.498Z
The finishing straight is reportedly 400 metres long, which sounds ideal for the bunch sprinters.
2026-06-19T09:59:04.258Z
The road is ever so slightly rising all the way to the finish, and there are a few roundabouts and some road furniture en route, but that likely won’t stop a bunch sprint.
2026-06-19T09:58:17.573Z
Race leader Elisa Longo Borghini is close to the front, clearly intent on staying out of trouble.
2026-06-19T09:57:35.367Z
Broad, sweeping roads for now, and various trains are keeping things under control on the front: EF, FDJ United, UAE And Liv AIUla Jayco, the latter working for Letizia Paternoster.
2026-06-19T09:54:54.832Z
Asencio caught
Nine kilometres form the line, Asencio has been caught.
2026-06-19T09:54:17.349Z
Some counter-attackers tried to follow Asencio up the road, but that didn’t work out. Lidl-Trek, EF and AG Insurance are trying to control things, but it’s not straightforward.
2026-06-19T09:51:56.115Z
11 kilometres to go
Asencio is really going for it, she has nearly 30 seconds advantage
2026-06-19T09:50:36.220Z
Meanwhile Asencio is ploughing on and has 18 seconds advantage.
2026-06-19T09:50:17.437Z
Results from the second sprint:
1. Lauren Dickson
2. Marie Le Net
3. Marlen Reusser
Three useful seconds for Dickson, then, who’s lying second overall after stage 2.
2026-06-19T09:49:08.553Z
15 kilometres to go – attack
Attack by Lauren Asencio (Ma Petite Entreprise) as the peloton regrouped after the second sprint. She’s got about 15 seconds advantage.
2026-06-19T09:47:00.586Z
Results from the first sprint at Sevelen, Km 103.8
1. Femke Markus
2. Marlen Reusser
3. Elisa Longo Borghini
2026-06-19T09:45:25.111Z
Sprint
Femke Markus (SDWorx-Protime) wins the first Tissot sprint, but race leader Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) fights for the second and in the raise in pace, Markus is caught.
2026-06-19T09:44:02.905Z
All of the break bar Markus is caught
2026-06-19T09:43:09.721Z
Femke Markus (SD Worx-Protime) launches a lone move
2026-06-19T09:42:46.178Z
The second of three sprints of the day looms and there’s a lot more hesitating in the seven as they approach. The peloton are fast closing in, though.
2026-06-19T09:41:56.011Z
The bunch in hot pursuit…
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-06-19T09:40:26.054Z
Femke Markus (SDWorx-Protime) provides Adegeest’s last-ditch bid with some more support and the gap is back up to 25 seconds again. Megan Arens (Picnic PostNL) has sat up and will be caught soon.
2026-06-19T09:38:47.734Z
Loes Adegeest (Lidl-Trek) makes one last effort to pump some life into the break, followed by Le Court-Pienaar
2026-06-19T09:37:58.064Z
Lots of hesitating in the break now. 25 seconds and dropping.
2026-06-19T09:37:17.462Z
More than making it to the finish, the gap is falling so fast that the question is whether the eight will make it as far as the last two intermediate sprints of the stage at Sevelen, now just a few kilometres ahead.
2026-06-19T09:35:26.038Z
The gap has dropped some more, to 45 seconds. Bunch sprint ahoy.
2026-06-19T09:29:07.566Z
Often after an attack breaking up the collaboration in the break that fails to work out, there’s a lot of hesitation about working together afterwards. But this time round, that’s not the case and the eight are still pulling together steadily.
2026-06-19T09:27:28.508Z
Berthet’s been brought back very quickly by Loes Adegeest (Lidl-Trek) at the head of the seven riders remaining in the break.
2026-06-19T09:26:09.072Z
Attack in the break
Juliette Berthet (FDJ United-SUEZ) darts away up a rise through the feed zone, 32 kilometres out
2026-06-19T09:24:10.257Z
If we do end up with a bunch sprint, Shari Bossuyt (AG Insurance-Soudal, already the winner of a Vuelta a España stage this year, is likely one top candidate and so too is Human Powered Health’s American sprinter Lily Williams.
2026-06-19T09:17:27.127Z
The gap is now shrinking more steadily as the race pounds along some typically broad, well-surfaced Swiss highway. 1:06 the gap.
2026-06-19T09:16:41.220Z
Still to come
Km 103.8: Sprint Sevelen (Tissot)
Km 104.8: Sprint Sevelen (Tissot)
Km 120.8 Finish: Bad Ragaz
2026-06-19T09:13:13.538Z
A reminder of the day’s eight leaders:
Kim Le Court-Pienaar (AG Insurance-Soudal)
Alice Towers (EF Education-Oatly)
Juliette Berthet (FDJ United-SUEZ)
Loes Adegeest (Lidl-Trek)
Ruby Roseman-Gannon (Liv AlUla Jayco)
Megan Arens (Picnic PostNL)
Femke Markus (SDWorx-Protime)
Katharina Sadnik (Visma-Lease a Bike)
2026-06-19T09:11:44.625Z
A fast-moving bunch, led by ADQ, blasts through at 1:16.
2026-06-19T09:10:54.300Z
But to be honest, it’s as if it wasn’t there. Rather than time bonuses or points, the eight’s only goal is to stay away as long as possible, and they simply thunder through with no fighting to be first.
2026-06-19T09:09:50.909Z
We’re coming towards the first sprint of the day at Rüthi
2026-06-19T09:07:44.939Z
Canyon-SRAM and Human Powered Health both helping UAE Team ADQ on the front now, but for the moment the gap is staying stubbornly around the 1:20-1:30 mark
2026-06-19T09:01:10.395Z
A shot of the eight
2026 Tour de Suisse Women stage 3: the eight riders in the break of the day. (Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-06-19T08:59:44.455Z
The chase begins in earnest
Into the final 50 kilometres and there’s a much more concerted effort coming from the bunch now to bring back in the eight, who are stepping up their pace in turn as well.
2026-06-19T08:57:53.544Z
While Kim Le Court-Pienaar (AG Insurance-Soudal) is the biggest hypothetical threat on GC, the bunch won’t have failed to notice that Juliette Berthet (FDJ United-SUEZ) is also in the move. Fifth in the Tour de Suisse back in 2024 and a former Giro d’Italia Donne podium finish, she’s definitely someone the GC teams won’t want to get too much time either.
2026-06-19T08:56:25.144Z
Gap is dropping now to 1:25
2026-06-19T08:47:54.547Z
There was only ever 1,094 metres of vertical climbing on this stage and there’s only about 400 metres left to go in that total in the last 60-odd kilometres remaining. But it’s worth noting that the last kilometre finish is actually slightly uphill. Just a couple of percentage points at most, but it could definitely have a knock-on effect on any hypothetical bunch sprint.
2026-06-19T08:43:52.957Z
1:38 the gap
With 62 kilometres to go
2026-06-19T08:43:14.066Z
Some words from race leader Elisa Longo Borghini courtesy of Eurosport this morning from the start, pointing out she’s never, despite a long and distinguished career, never been at the top of GC in the Tour de Suisse before.
“It’s my first yellow jersey and it’s pretty cool to wear it, I hope to keep it by the end of the day.”
“It could be a breakaway stage, there are not so many sprinters, but we’ll see.”
“For sure the TT will be tough and the last stage too, so staying safe and saving energy is the priority today.”
2026-06-19T08:38:48.444Z
Riders going back for bottles from their team cars. It’s looking like it’ll be a warm day again in Switzerland.
2026-06-19T08:38:05.335Z
Take that back about Katharina Sadnik (Visma-Lease a Bike) not working in the break by the way, she’s just done a couple of good turns in the group of eight, and their advantage is back out to 1:25.
2026-06-19T08:35:37.725Z
On sunny days like this and with scenery like this, you can think of worse places in the world to hold a bike race…
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-06-19T08:33:00.921Z
The peloton trundles over the top in its turn, 1:13 back.
2026-06-19T08:32:01.179Z
Megan Arens (Picnic PostNL) takes top points on the Kobelwald, with zero opposition from the other seven. The gap’s been squeezed to 1:24.
2026-06-19T08:30:13.852Z
They’re riding at a steady pace on the climb’s 13% slopes, which is kind of logical given they all want to stay together to make sure the break stays away as long as possible.
2026-06-19T08:28:31.353Z
The eight breakaways are now on the one classified climb of the day, the Kobelwald (Cat.3, 1km, 10%).
2026-06-19T08:27:30.385Z
71 kms to go
1:55 the gap
2026-06-19T08:26:50.953Z
Two abandons have been reported by the organisers, both due to a crash earlier on the stage: Aromitalia Vaiano riders Lucia Brillante and Petra Zsanko.
2026-06-19T08:23:03.720Z
The only rider who doesn’t seem to be collaborating in the break is Visma-Lease a Bike’s Katharina Sadnik, which might well be because she is protecting the interests of teammate Sarah Van Dam, Best Young Rider, and third overall.
2026-06-19T08:14:55.554Z
Le Court-Pienaar race leader on the road
Having dropped to 45 seconds, the gap for the eight ahead is now 1:35, making breakaway Kim Le Court-Pienaar (AG Insurance-Soudal) – 1:13 down on GC- race leader on the road.
2026-06-19T08:10:22.372Z
Gap for the eight ahead is currently hovering around 1:05 seconds.
2026-06-19T08:02:57.716Z
And here’s a shot of Arens on the attack early on, before she was joined by the seven other breakaways.
2026 Tour de Suisse Women stage 3: Megan Arens on the attack (Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-06-19T08:00:15.276Z
Gap coming down
The gap is shrinking to just 45 seconds
2026-06-19T07:59:09.976Z
Today’s objective: 💐 for @urskazigart 🫶🏼#AGInsuranceSoudal I 🇨🇭 @tds pic.twitter.com/ojpzS6Bh0tJune 19, 2026
2026-06-19T07:57:02.738Z
UAE and Canyon SRAM are leading the bunch.
2026-06-19T07:56:23.154Z
Current gap at 94 kilometres to go for the eight leaders is 1:00
2026-06-19T07:55:31.463Z
Le Court-Pienaar is the best placed on GC, at 1:13 on race leader Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) so likely they won’t let it go far too up the road.
2026-06-19T07:54:52.196Z
Here’s the eight riders in the break:
Kim Le Court-Pienaar (AG Insurance-Soudal)
Alice Towers (EF Education-Oatly)
Juliette Berthet (FDJ United-SUEZ)
Loes Adegeest (Lidl-Trek)
Ruby Roseman-Gannon (Liv AlUla Jayco)
Megan Arens (Picnic PostNL)
Femke Markus (SDWorx-Protime)
Katharina Sadnik (Visma-Lease a Bike)
2026-06-19T07:49:37.742Z
On today’s menu
Km 50.8: Climb: Kobelwald (Cat.3, 1km, 10%)
Km 79.1: Bonus Sprint: Rüthi
Km 82.5: Sprint: Cugnaso
Km 103.8: Sprint Sevelen (Tissot)
Km 104.8: Sprint Sevelen (Tissot)
Km 120.8 Finish: Bad Ragaz
2026-06-19T07:47:50.419Z
Arens joined by the seven chasesrs, so that’s eight riders in the lead.
2026-06-19T07:47:21.434Z
Meantime here’s a shot of the race classification leaders from today’s start.
Tour de Suisse Women 2026: race leaders at the start of stage 3 (Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-06-19T07:45:15.527Z
Seven riders closing down on the one race leader, Arens, just 20 seconds back. The main peloton is at 55 seconds.
2026-06-19T07:44:35.684Z
Good news. All riders involved in the crash have restarted, according to race radio.
2026-06-19T07:44:18.568Z
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2026-06-19T07:43:47.135Z
Some riders dropped after the crash and seven riders counter-attacking.
2026-06-19T07:42:36.159Z
Crash in the bunch. At least five riders down.
2026-06-19T07:40:37.526Z
Gap has dropped to 25 seconds and there’s a small group of counter-attackers, six riders going clear.
2026-06-19T07:36:59.654Z
108 km to go
Counter-attack by a lone rider, but the peloton wasn’t too happy about that. 45 seconds the gap for Arens.
2026-06-19T07:34:58.524Z
Gap is up to 45 seconds. Getting to the now-or-never point for anybody who wants to bridge across to Arens for what could be the break of the day.
2026-06-19T07:34:25.390Z
One confirmed DNS for now by the way: Urška Žigart (AG Insurance-Soudal). Žigart completed the stage, but a terrible crash late on left her with a fractured jaw.
2026-06-19T07:33:17.178Z
We’re off the descent of the Sankt Luzisteig and the peloton is slowing notably according to race radio. Gap still at 30 seconds for Arens.
2026-06-19T07:29:23.624Z
Arens is 6:05 down on GC so she is certainly not an overall threat, but it remains to be seen if more riders get across on the flatter part that follows. Otherwise, this could be a very long solo move.
2026-06-19T07:25:57.212Z
She’s on the descent of the Sankt Luzisteig, after which we have a mostly flat stage. Bunch very strung out right now.
2026-06-19T07:25:28.069Z
Arens gap is now up to 30 seconds.
2026-06-19T07:23:13.282Z
One early attacker, Megan Arens (Picnic Post NL), with a 20-second gap. Some riders dropped on the steep slopes of the Sankt Luzisteig
2026-06-19T07:20:54.528Z
Meantime here’s the overall standings after yesterday’s stage, courtesy of FirstCycling
(Image credit: FirstCycling)
2026-06-19T07:18:22.702Z
Bunch still together in the opening few hundred metres, but given there’s an unclassified climb about to start, that may well change soon.
2026-06-19T07:17:49.544Z
Racing underway
And stage 3 of the 2026 Tour de Suisse Women, Bad Ragaz-Bad Ragaz, 120.8 km long and with 1094 metres of elevation gain, is officially underway.
2026-06-19T07:16:31.119Z
While we’re waiting for the start, here’s our report on yesterday’s dramatic stage, which saw a second leader emerging in as many days and plenty of late attacks.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-06-19T07:11:16.765Z
Just over three kilometres of neutralised to ride before racing proper gets underway.
2026-06-19T07:10:28.377Z
And the riders are now underway on the neutralised section.
2026-06-19T07:04:32.354Z
A reminder of our race classification leaders:
GC: Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ)
Points: Femke de Vries (Visma-Lease a Bike)
Mountains: Femke de Vries (Visma-Lease a Bike)
BYR: Sarah Van Dam (Visma-Lease a Bike)
Teams: EF Education-Oatly
2026-06-19T06:57:45.031Z
They’ll have a great chance to get away as soon as the flag drops at 0918 CET, too, given there’s a short but very steep opening climb, the Sankt Luzisteig (2km, 101%) right at the beginning. Curiously enough, it’s not classified for the mountains classification, but it’ll still hurt the legs and maybe act as a springboard for an early move.
2026-06-19T06:55:28.145Z
The most likely option on the cards for today’s 120.8 kilometre stage is the one bunch sprint of the 2026 edition. But after two GC days and with a time trial and a whopping mountain stage this weekend, the breakaways will likely be equally keen to impact.
2026-06-19T06:49:24.621Z
The unofficial start is at 0910 CET with racing for real getting underway at 0918.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of stage 3 of the Tour de Suisse Women.