Lemko Evenpoel made his Tour de Suisse debut with a stage win in the final time trial and 11th place overall.

The Belgian entered the race as one of the favorites to win the overall, but his challenge faded when he lost over two minutes on the punchy finishing circuit of Novazzano on stage 5.

"I learned a lot this week, including the stage where I lost two minutes. Both physically and tactically. As a team, we didn't have the "balls" to take on the responsibility of taking the race in hand and giving our maximum to win, or to go toe-to-toe with the big boys.

"That's how you build for the future. That's how you have to stay awake in the local laps. If that doesn't happen, I'll probably end up on the GC podium. But that's life."

Evenpoel moved up in the mountains on the final two days and gained two more places in Sunday's time trial to finish the Tour de Suisse in 11th place overall.

On the 25.6km course in Faduits, Evenpoel, Thomas, and Stephan Kühn (Groupama-FDJ) skirmished for the stage win. Evenepoel was 2 seconds ahead of Küng at the halfway point and overtook the European champion on the headwind section to the finish. Evenepoel, who averaged over 54 km/h, was three seconds ahead of Thomas, while Küng was another seven seconds back in third place.

"The pace plan was hard to follow in this heat, but we still managed to keep the power pretty hard and even.

"I'm surprised and amazed at how well Gelant is running right now. He's very good. He looks really strong. I'm proud to beat a player like him and he's a big idol for me."

Evenpoel will compete in the time trial and road race at the Belgian championships next week. He is unlikely to compete in any other stage races before the Vuelta, with only the Clasica San Sebastian (July 30) currently scheduled.

"I will go to San Sebastian and try to win another one (after 2019), but after that I probably won't race until the Vuelta.

"The Vuelta will be decided in the last two weeks, so it will be important to be as fresh as possible. I want to focus on the team time trial with everyone and the individual time trial on stage 10 so that I can start the Vuelta as fresh as possible."