Thalita de Jong scored ninth place on stage 2 of the Tour de Suisse Women, climbing to tenth overall at the end of the 105.6 km out-and-back route to Locarno.
This is the 32-year-old’s second WorldTour top-ten of 2026. The result continues the momentum she gained at the backend of the Giro d’Italia Women, which saw her place 14th on that race’s final day, as well as 11th in yesterday’s Swiss opener.
“Yesterday was a good day, and today, I felt good again,” de Jong said afterwards. “We raced again as a team really well, and then we had Carlotta in the break, so that was also great.”
The main focus on stage 2 was two climbs in quick succession inside the finale, the 3.5 km at 6.9% Fanghi and then the 1.4 km at 8.9% Orselina and its descents where the race was decided.
“We kept control of the peloton towards the climb with Marta and Titia doing a great job to stay with me in front,” explains de Jong. “Lily was there as well, and it was just all going as fast as possible. Kasia [Niewiadoma] attacked, and that was a bit too much for me, but I kept on going.”
Atop her team Factor OSTRO VAM, de Jong could then count on Nina Buijsman for a final burst of assistance at the top of the climb. Her compatriot went on to finish 19th.
“Then I went on the downhill on my own, catching up to Yara [Kastelijn],” says de Jong. “I went as fast as possible to the finish line for the top ten. I’m happy with that.”
De Jong is a strong finisher and has regained consistency in that attribute since recovering from a crash she suffered in the Giro.
“Now the legs are even better than the Giro, so maybe I needed Giro to be good over here,” she says. “Tomorrow will be a different stage, but we will keep on going with the team. We are racing really well with the whole squad. It’s just really good to see, and everybody’s motivated.”
Carlotta Cipressi also had a starring role on stage 2, joining a two-up breakaway after Marta Jaskulska’s previous attempts.
“It was really hard, but I’m really happy about being in the breakaway,” Cipressi said at the finish line. “We planned it, and we made it, so it was good. We hoped to arrive at the climb, but were caught just before, but it’s okay like this as we went quite early.”
With temperatures touching 86 degrees, summer racing takes extensive heat training with CORE, as well as their post-stage cooling vests, and plenty of hydration throughout the day, with assistance from Science in Sport’s isotonic products that help replenish lost electrolytes.
“Drinking, drinking, drinking is key,” explains de Jong. “But also ice socks. I do the best I can to stay in the shadows to stay cool as long as possible, something any level of rider can do. It’s hard, but it’s the same for everybody. And actually, I like the heat, so for me, it’s okay and better than the cold.”
Stage 3 to Bad Ragaz is the only true opportunity for a bunch sprint. On a largely flat course after a climb from the start, sprinters teams will want to take advantage.
Tour de Suisse Women stage 2 results
1 LONGO BORGHINI Elisa – UAE Team ADQ 2:34:35
2 VAN DAM Sarah – Team Visma | Lease a Bike 0:30
3 HÄBERLIN Steffi – Team SD Worx – Protime 0:47
4 REUSSER Marlen – Movistar Team ”
5 NIEWIADOMA Kasia – CANYON//SRAM ”
6 LE COURT-PIENAAR Kim – AG Insurance – Soudal Team 1:03
7 DICKSON Lauren – FDJ United – SUEZ ”
8 KERBAOL Cédrine – EF Education-Oatly ”
9 DE JONG Thalita – Human Powered Health 1:29
10 KASTELIJN Yara – Fenix-Premier Tech 1:31
Tour de Suisse Women General Classification after stage 2
1 LONGO BORGHINI Elisa – UAE Team ADQ 5:31:26
2 DICKSON Lauren – FDJ United – SUEZ 0:27
3 VAN DAM Sarah – Team Visma | Lease a Bike 0:34
4 HÄBERLIN Steffi – Team SD Worx – Protime 0:53
5 REUSSER Marlen – Movistar Team 0:57
6 NIEWIADOMA Kasia – CANYON//SRAM ”
7 KERBAOL Cédrine – EF Education-Oatly 1:00
8 LE COURT-PIENAAR Kim – AG Insurance – Soudal Team 1:13
9 DE VRIES Femke – Team Visma | Lease a Bike 1:37
10 DE JONG Thalita – Human Powered Health 2:17
Stage Gallery
Photos: GettySport
