Geraint Thomas (SKY) is the first leader of the 69th Tour de Romandie after the first team time trial in the WorldTour this season, a 19km route between La Vallée de Joux and the Juraparc with cold temperatures and a demanding finish for all teams, two kilometers with slopes of 3-4% that challenged the Movistar Team's abilities to keep their traditional cohesion.
Used to keep their group together until the final section, the riders directed by Arrieta and Laguía reached the final ramp with all their eight units, though with a considerable time loss (37") to the two leading teams - SKY itself and the Australian Orica-GreenEdge outfit - they couldn't make up with their strong climbers. The Blues finished in 10th spot, 40" behind the leaders and about twenty seconds behind some of the other GC contenders.
A chance for the roster led by Nairo Quintana to bounce back on Swiss soil will come already on Wednesday, with the finish in Saint-Imier (168km) after four categorized climbs including La Vue des Alpes (Cat-2) in the finale.
14.05 - 19.05: 4 Jours de Dunkerque |
15.05 - 19.05: Tour of Hellas |
15.05 - 19.05: Orlen Nations GP |
16.05 - 19.05: Vuelta a Burgos Feminas |
16.05 - 19.05: Tour of Sakarya |
16.05 - 19.05: Vuelta a Santiago del Estero |
17.05 - 19.05: SPIE Juniorendriedaagse |
18.05 - 19.05: Trophée Centre Morbihan |
19.05: Antwerp Port Epic Ladies |
19.05: GP Gorenjska |
Hiroshi TSUBAKI 33 years | today |
Lore VERSTRAETE 26 years | today |
Paolo CENTRA 39 years | today |
Janari-joel JÕESSAR 34 years | today |
Marco SALIGARI 59 years | today |
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