Tour de Suisse stage 1 - Live coverage

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the opening stage of the 2022 Tour de Suisse!

Today's Tour de Suisse 177.6km opener starts in the city of Küsnacht, and takes in four laps of a 45.7-kilometre circuit featuring two climb, Pfannenstiel and Küsnachter Berg. 

The route also takes in three intermediate sprint points, first at km 53.3, km 99 and km 144.7. 

The peloton is currently rolling out from Forch Parkplatz in Küsnacht for a 5.2km neutral zone before they start the race proper. 

We're close to the official start of the first stage of Tour de Suisse. 153 riders have signed on for 177.6km with an elevation gain of almost 2,800 metres. 

And we have an official start to the Tour de Suisse!  

Attacks are flying out of the peloton as the break attempts to establish itself. 

Seven riders have a small gap already, but it looks like the bunch isn't happy with the combination. 

167km to go

But it looks like the peloton has stopped chasing and allowed this break of seven up the road to gain some traction. The gap is more than a minute and a half with 10 km ridden. We're still waiting on names. 

The gap is growing to 2'05 and there's a solo rider in the gap attempting to bridge across to the leaders. 

The names in the break:  

Davide Villella (Cofidis)

Casper Pedersen (DSM)

Mike Teunissen (Jumbo-Visma)

Johan Jacobs (Movistar Team)

Quinn Simmons (Trek-Segafredo)

Chad Haga (Human Powered Health)

Simon Vitzthul (Swiss Cycling)

Chasing is Brent Van Moer (Lotto Soudal) at 45 seconds. The peloton is at 2'05

Brent Van Moer's bid to catch the break has come to an end, and he's already back in the peloton. Seven riders are up ahead with 156km to go. 

The gap continues to grow as they climb up Pfannenstiel for the first time. The leaders have 2'40. We're 20km into the stage. 

152km to go

The leaders' advantage is up to four minutes now as the peloton eases off after the first climb. 

The leaders are almost 30km into today's stage. They're heading to the next climb, but on the first lap neither ascent offers any points in the KOM competition. 

Thibaut Pinot has to call to his team car to fix a mechanical issue. The peloton is fairly relaxed at this stage in the race. 

143km to go

The race has been underway for an hour as the leaders start climbing the second hill of the circuit with a 3'22" advantage. 

The Küsnachter Berg is fairly short at 2.5km, but packs a punch with an average gradient of 7.3 percent. This is the first of four times they'll climb it. 

Bora-Hansgrohe have taken over the front of the bunch as the leaders' advantage grows to 3'22. We're about 40km into today's stage. 

The breakaway is approaching the first intermediate sprint of the day at Mönchaltorferstrasse where points and time bonuses will be available for the first three over the line. They're about 10km away. 

130km to go

It looks like Bora want to keep this breakaway at around 3'30 with 130km to go. Soon they'll complete the first circuit. 

We're 50km in on stage 1 of the Tour de Suisse. The seven leaders have 3'45" on the peloton as they approach the finish line for the first time. 

Want a great preview on what we can look forward to this week at the Tour de Suisse? Barry Ryan has you covered: Remco Evenepoel takes on Ineos in latest test

It's a hot day in Küsnacht today. The temperature currently is almost 28 degrees Celsius under sunny skies. Tomorrow's stage will be completely different, however, as there's a 90 percent chance of rain.  

On to the second lap now. The gap has remained consistent at 3'25 with 115km to go.

110km to go

The leaders are on the Pfannenstiel for the second time. This time around, the climb offers points for the first three across the summit (3,2,1). 

With 107km to go, the breakaway is holding a three minute gap. 

Results of the first intermediate sprint (Mönchaltorferstrasse):

1. Quinn Simmons (Trek - Segafredo) - 4 pts and 3"

2. Lewis Askey (Groupama - FDJ) - 2 pts and 2"

3. Johan Jacobs (Movistar Team) - 1 pt and 1"

Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) sits comfortably in the bunch after an early mechanical. 

A reminder of today's breakaway: Lewis Askey (GFC), Chad Haga (HPM), Johan Jacobs (MOV), Casper Pedersen (DSM), Quinn Simmons (TFS), Mike Teunissen (TJV) and Simon Vitzthum (SUI) are off the front with 100km to go. The peloton is at 3 minutes. 

100km to go

The gap has decreased slightly to 2'30 as they tackle the circuit for the second time. 

Quickstep has taken over the pace setting with none other than Tim Declercq (QST) at the front. 

Result of the first KOM in Pfannenstiel (Cat 3):

1. Johan Jacobs (Movistar Team) - 3 pts

2. Quinn Simmons (Trek - Segafredo) - 2 pts

3. Simon Vitzthum (Swiss Cycling) - 1 pt

The average speed in the second hour of racing is 41kph. 

86km to go

Lewis Askey (GFC) was dropped out of the breakaway, leaving five up the road with a gap of 2'40.

Result of the second KOM at Küsnachter Berg (Cat 3):

1. Quinn Simmons (Trek - Segafredo) - 3 pts

2. Simon Vitzthum (Swiss Cycling) - 2 pts

3. Johan Jacobs (Movistar Team) - 1 pt

We're halfway through today's stage! The leaders have gone through the finish line at Mönchaltorferstrasse and on their third lap of four. 

75km to go

Askey has found his way back into the breakaway after losing contact a few kilometres ago. 

Result of the second intermediate sprint in Mönchaltorferstrasse:

1. Quinn Simmons (Trek - Segafredo) - 4 pts and 3"

2. Casper Pedersen (Team DSM) - 2 pts and 2"

3. Johan Jacobs (Movistar Team) - 1 pt and 1"

70km to go

The leaders are just 5km away from Pfannenstiel for the third passage up the Cat. 3 climb. 

The gap continues to sit at 2'25 as they head up Pfannenstiel.

65 km to go

Dylan Van Baarle is sitting at the front of the peloton for Ineos with 64km remaining. 

The gap has decreased to 2'00 with 60km to go. 

As we work our way towards the final 50km, the teams are starting to organise at the front of the peloton. The gap is falling to 1'45".

Marc Hirschi makes his way back into the bunch after a bike swap with zero panic.

50km to go

Askey is once again struggling to stay in contact with the breakaway as they head up Küsnachter Berg. 

It looks like the Brit might not stay in contact this time around. 

Quinn Simmons takes the points at the top of Küsnachter Berg with two more KOM climbs to go. 

Result of the third KOM in Pfannenstiel (Cat. 3):

1. Simon Vitzthum (Swiss Cycling) - 3 pts

2. Quinn Simmons (Trek - Segafredo) - 2 pts

3. Johan Jacobs (Movistar Team) - 1 pt

Philippe Gilbert (Lotto Soudal) is looking fiesty in the bunch. He's launched an attack, and is followed by a couple riders. 

Philippe Gilbert (Lotto Soudal) has inspired a chase group of five, that just picked up Askey. 

The gap to the six is inside 55 seconds with 48 kilometres to go. 

The chasers have been caught. The peloton is really working now as we head toward the final circuit. 

We're on the final lap of today's stage and the breakaway is holding a gap of a minute and some change. 42km to go. 

40km to go

Result of the fourth KOM at Küsnachter Berg (Cat 3):

1. Quinn Simmons (Trek - Segafredo) - 3 pts

2. Simon Vitzthum (Swiss Cycling) - 2 pts

3. Chad Haga (Human Powered Health) - 1 pt

Ineos Grenadiers and BikeExchange - Jayco have taken over the front of the peloton. The gap is still holding at 1 minute.

30km to go

Result of the third (and last) intermediate sprint in Mönchaltorferstrasse:

1. Quinn Simmons (Trek - Segafredo) - 4 pts and 3"

2. Chad Haga (Human Powered Health) - 2 pts and 2"

3. Simon Vitzthum (Swiss Cycling) - 1 pt and 1"

10km to go before the race reaches Pfannenstiel (Cat. 3) for the final time. 

Alpecin Fenix has started to make an appearance toward the front as Bike Exchange continue to set the pace. Ineos also has their entire team up there. 

25km to go

Van Baarle grabs three musette bags at once, which is pretty impressive. There's less than 25km to go and Ineos is choosing to refuel before they hit the climbs for the final time. 

Van Baarle has successfully distributed the musettes and quickly heads back to the front of the peloton. 

We're also seeing the pink jerseys of EF Education Easypost come to the front. 

It's time for a little bit of attacking as Simmons and Vitzthum continue their private battle for the KOM jersey. 

Chad Haga (HPM), Casper Pedersen (DSM), Quinn Simmons (TFS) and Simon Vitzthum (SUI) are the remaining riders at the front after Johan Jacobs (Movistar Team) and Jay Vine (Alpecin-Fenix) fall back into the bunch. 

20km to go

The climb has also been too much for Peter Sagan, who's trying to find some form ahead of the Tour de France.

The gap to the peloton is just 20 seconds for the four riders remaining in the breakaway. 

Simon Vitzthum (SUI) wants to be the last man standing in the break and puts in a late attack with the peloton looming just seconds behind. 

Simmons has gone back into the bunch after claiming the KOM points on Pfannenstiel. The Trek-Segafredo rider has secured the lead in the mountains jersey at the end of the stage. 

15km to go

10km to go

We're about 3km to the foot of the final climb, and things are looking a bit more hectic in the bunch. The gap to the leaders, Chad Haga (HPM), Casper Pedersen (DSM) and Simon Vitzthum (SUI), is 20 seconds. 

Now Haga is dropped and just two riders remain off the front on the last hill. 

Quickstep is at the front and about to reel the rest of the break back in on Küsnachter Berg.

5km to go

Alessandro Covi (UAE Team Emirates) attacks on the Küsnachter Berg with 5km to go.

But he's brought back and now Remco Evenepoel (QST) has a go. It's causing all kinds of chaos behind. 

Fuglsang is also contributing to the skirmish, but no rider has gone clear just yet. 

Gino Mader has been distanced at the back of the reduced field, a surprise from a rider who just finished second at the Tour de Romandie. 

3.5km to go

Aleksandr Vlasov (BORA - Hansgrohe) makes a move and Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team) bridges across with 2km to go.

We're coming up to the finale! 

They're caught and the sprint is winding up!

Stephen Williams (TBV) takes the win!

The 26-year-old Welshman takes the biggest win of his career for Bahrain Victorious. He also takes the race leader's jersey. 

Maximilian Schachmann (BORA - hansgrohe) takes second place and Andreas Kron (Lotto Soudal) claims third.

At the end of stage 1, Stephen Williams is in the race lead by 4 seconds ahead of Max Schachmann. Quinn Simmons is the KOM leader, and Andreas Kron leads the best young rider competition. Williams is also on top of the points standings. 

Read our recap of today's stage of the Tour de Suisse by Kirsten Frattini and relive all the action from the 177.3km opener in Küsnacht.

Winner Stephen Williams (Bahrain-Victorious):

"It's my first big race back since Romandie, and a good month of training. I was unsure where my form was going to be but I knew I had done the work before this. To win the first stage with a group like that was really special," Williams said.

"So far, I don't think it has sunk in yet, to be honest. It's been a pretty strange few years, so to come here and win the stage - I'm over the moon."

Simon Vitzthum of Switzerland with a late attack that helped earn him the most combative rider on stage1

Stephen Williams celebrates the biggest win of his career at the opening stage of the Tour de Suisse. The Welshman now leads the race by 4 seconds ahead of Max Schachmann. 

Williams leads the overall classification by four seconds ahead of Max Schachmann heading into stage 2, which serves up a similar stage as today at 199km.