Da Costa powers to victory, closes gap on Frank

Mathais Frank’s lead has been cut to 13 runs

Defending champion Rui Da Costa of Portugal boosted his hopes of retaining his Tour of Switzerland title as he powered to victory on a gruelling seventh stage to close the gap on overall leader Mathias Frank to 13 seconds.

Da Costa was in a leading group of three riders alongside Dutchman Bauke Mollema and American Tejay van Garderen entering the final stages, but the pair were unable to match the Portuguese as he sprinted across the line.

Mollema edged Van Garderen to second with Frenchman Thibaut Pinot, who took the points at the summit of the HC Albula Pass, dropped as the quartet tackled the final descent.

The 206km route from Meilen to La Punt featured four rated climbs, including a brutal 30km climb of the Albula Pass that peaked at 2,315m just inside the final 10km.

Switzerland’s Frank came in ninth at 22sec, having been left behind by BMC teammate Van Garderen on the climb up the Albula, but remains in yellow with Da Costa breathing down his neck ahead of Saturday’s eighth stage, a hilly 180m.5km route from Zernez to Bad Ragaz.

The race concludes on Sunday with an individual time trial.

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