(Abtwil) Two days after the death of Gino Mäder, following injuries sustained during a fall on Friday in the Tour de Suisse, Mattias Skjelmose dedicated his victory on Sunday to the Swiss rider.

Skjelmose maintained his lead in the general classification and finished nine seconds ahead of Juan Ayuso, the fastest in the final time trial.

“I wanted to win for Gino,” Skjelmose said. I think everyone rode for him today. People I spoke to all said he was the most amazing person you could talk to. »

Mäder went off the track and fell into a ravine, on a fast descent near the end of Thursday’s mountainous fifth stage. He was airlifted to hospital.

The 26-year-old athlete was confirmed dead less than an hour before the start of Friday’s stage, which was cancelled.

On Saturday, three teams, including that of Mäder, refused to continue the competition and the stage was completed in his honor.

Ayuso won the 25.7 kilometer time trial on Sunday from St. Gallen to Abtwil.

He finished eight seconds ahead of Remco Evenepoel and nine seconds ahead of Skjelmose. Evenepoel reached third place in the general classification.

At 23, the Belgian was the oldest competitor on the podium.

Spread over eight days, the Tour de Suisse is one of the last preparation races for the Tour de France, which will be held from July 1 to 23.