The stage in and around Vaduz consisted of a 4.6-kilometre lap which had to be ridden ten times and contained a challenging climb.
Home rider Noemi Rüegg was able to show herself on behalf of Team Jumbo-Visma. In the race’s early stages, the Swiss attacked and took the first mountain points. In the end, three riders escaped; Lucinda Brand won. Rüegg, Aafke Soet and Linda Riedmann held out in the peloton for a long time. The Swiss Rüegg was the best Jumbo-Visma rider with the 25th place.
“This criterium meant a tough start today”, race coach Lieselot Decroix said. “Every lap, the riders faced a 700-metre climb. It made the race a true battlefield. We planned to ride with Noemi for the mountain jersey points. On the first climb, this plan succeeded and she took the full loot. Then a group rode away and we mainly tried to follow. We are here to develop, so today was a good learning experience.”
