'I'm happy to get the chance today' - Narváez seizes opportunity away from Pogacar duty

Narváez and Meurisse had attacked from the day's early breakaway on the first categorised climb, the Wildhaus, with the pair driving the gap out and never letting the bunch get on terms. 

The 157.4km stage from Bad Ragaz to Bad Ragaz had been billed as the only sprint opportunity of the 2026 Tour de Suisse, but a heavy day of climbing combined with thunderstorms, lightning and standing water on the closing kilometres turned the chase into something closer to survival.

"It was a hard day, especially in the last part we had headwind. I think we ride full with the other guy, so yeah I'm happy, we ride really really good in the final," Narváez said to CyclingPro.net.

The Ecuadorian was put in the breakaway after a UAE Team Emirates-XRG miscalculation on stage 2, when Romain Grégoire took the win from the break ahead of Pogačar.

"We did a mistake yesterday and he said today two riders from the team are free, so I tried to go in the breakaway and then we just ride full with the other guy," said Narvaez.

It is rare for Narváez to be the rider crossing the line first when racing with Pogačar, with the Ecuadorian normally on domestique duty for the Slovenian. Narváez acknowledged the privilege of being given the freedom by the team's leader.

"You are not allowed to do it many times now and I am happy to get the chance today."

Asked about the closing kilometres, Narváez described the chase from the peloton.

"I think we were both calculating it. I didn't have the radio in the last 30km, I only had the information, but the squad had to run at 70km per hour. It was impossible. We were running at 55km per hour. It was 40 or 50 seconds. They wouldn't catch up with us."

Narváez was clear that the duo had taken nothing for granted, particularly given Meurisse's reputation.

"No, in the end, you shouldn't underestimate any runner. All runners are here to win. They have come from the top, they are preparing well, so you can't underestimate anyone. I knew he was the fastest, but he is a Belgian runner. You can't underestimate him."

The Ecuadorian, who had taken a break since his stage haul at the 2026 Giro d'Italia, reflected on what the win meant.

"I had a good rest at home. I didn't think I would be like this. I'm happy to have won today," concluded the Ecuadorian.