Thomas pipped after time trial

Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas was pipped to victory in the Tour de Suisse as Simon Spilak took the general classification by five seconds after yesterday’s time trial finale.

Thomas began the day as the favourite as he trailed overnight leader Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) by 34 seconds, with Spilak a further 13 seconds back.

But while Thomas had no problem overhauling Frenchman Pinot, Spilak went even faster to claim his first stage race win since the 2010 Tour de Romandie.

Tom Dumoulin of Giant-Alpecin took the stage win, 18 seconds ahead of Spilak, and in the process bumped Pinot off the podium entirely as he claimed third place.

Local favourite Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory) set the third fastest time on the 38.4km stage around Bern, with Thomas down in fifth place, 36 seconds slower than Dumoulin.