Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) closed the gap on race leader Sergio Iguita (Bora-Hansgrohe) on the final stage to Malbun in Liechtenstein to clinch the overall Tour de Suisse title.

The Welsh rider pulled away from yellow-jerseyed Jacob Frugsan (Israel-Premier Tech) in the final kilometer to maintain his second place overall.

"We are in a good position. I think tomorrow's race is everything."

With only the flat 25.6km time trial around the capital of Liechtenstein remaining, Thomas is the leading contender for the overall win. He has faced Higuchi eight times in the past four seasons, winning six times, including the time trial at the Tour de Romandie and the short time trial at Ituriá Basque.

However, Thomas lost to Higuchi in the flat 32km time trial at the Volta ao Algarve in February, but the 2018 Tour de France winner, by his own admission, was not yet in condition after recovering from shoulder surgery and COVID-19.

Foursang, currently third overall by 19 seconds, had faced Thomas in 32 time trials throughout his career, with the Ineos rider holding a 28-4 advantage in direct confrontations.

Thomas started Saturday's stage one second ahead of Fuglsang, and both Ineos and Israel Premier Tech continued to monitor the early breakaway leaders.

Higuain's teammate Max Schachmann made a sharp acceleration on the lower side of the Malbun slope, but Daniel Martinez took over the reins for Toma shortly after. The Colombian's sustained pacemaking prevented any further attacks, and the yellow jersey group was eventually reduced to just Toma, Igita, and Fuglsang.

Higuita broke away at the 2km mark, and Fuglsang in the yellow jersey continued to chase until the last kilometer. Thomas finished 11 seconds ahead of Higuti and 18 seconds ahead of Fuglsang to retain second place overall.

"I expected a lot of attacks. Dani [Martinez] was amazing. So was the whole team," Thomas said. I was following Hiwatari too much. I was chasing him too much. After such a long run, I misjudged how long 500 meters would take."

Thomas is looking to become the third Tour de Suisse winner after Egan Bernal (2019) and Richard Calapas (2021). Thomas will be looking to become the third rider to win the Tour de Suisse, especially after COVID-19 forced both Adam Yates and Tom Pidcock to retire. A coronavirus outbreak has forced four teams to pull out of the Tour de Suisse, leaving only 81 riders left in the race after Saturday's stage.

"I've been working hard to come into the Tour in good shape: "said Thomas.