Adam Yates claims fifth stage of Tour de Suisse to consolidate GC lead

At the end of a near 10-kilometre climb to the summit finish at Cari, Yates prevailed by five seconds from Portugal's Almeida.

Colombian Egan Bernal took third, 16 seconds adrift after the 148km ride from Ambri.

Yates, third in last year's Tour de France, broke clear under two kilometres from the line to extend his overall lead to 35seconds from Almeida, with Ineos's former Tour and Giro d'Italia winner Bernal a further 1min 11sec back.

Yates reflected on a good day in the saddle.

"It was a really strong performance. Right at the end there Joao was putting down a crazy pace, I only had to follow for four or five kilometres.

"When I attacked he was still there, so he's obviously in super great shape,and the team is super-motivated for the rest of the week."

He added: "It's a good position to be in to have two guys in such great shape. We're both co-leaders, we have been since the start and so far it's working out well."

One rider missing this week but who will be taking a keen interest in his UAE team's buoyant form is Tadej Pogacar.

The 2020 and 2021 Tour de France champion is one of the hot favourites for this year's race after dominating last month's Giro d'Italia.

Friday's sixth stage has been shortened to 42 kilometres due to snow with a brutal final climb to Blatten-Belalp.