Küng fu! BMC’s young rider wins Tour de Romandie’s weather-shortened Stage 2
Hugo Houle's 14th is best result of the season
BMC’s young rider Stefan Küng gave the Swiss two Tour de Romandie stage victories in a row on Thursday in the wet, cold second stage. Küng took on a breakmate in a two-up sprint at the end of a weather-shortened day. Sixth place Fabio Felline (Italy/Trek-Segafredo) keeps the yellow jersey for a third stage. Hugo Houle was 14th, his best result of the year.
Originally Stage 2 was supposed to be 160-km starting in Champery, but the long opening descent was deemed too dangerous in the wet, cold conditions that threatened snow. So the start was moved 24-km down the road to Aigle, making the stage 136-km.
#TDR2017 stage 2:
New start time: 2PM CET (6AM MDT)
Broadcast start: 4PM CET (8AM MDT)
Anticipated finish: 5:20PM CET (9:20AM MDT) pic.twitter.com/9mSJh6eZ3q— EF Pro Cycling (@EFprocycling) April 27, 2017
There were still three categorized climbs and a 2.3-km, 2.2% finishing drag in Bulle.
Straight away, a four-man group shuffled off. Sander Armée (Belgium/Lotto-Soudal), somehow denied the mountains jersey Wednesday after being in the breakaway all day, once again lit out for the KOM kit. Among his breakmates was soon-to-be-suspended Andrei Grivko.
By the time Armée took 5-points at the top of Cat. 3 Attalens, the gap was 5:00. The Lotto-Soudal rider grabbed five more atop Cat. 3 Esmonts.
. @stefankueng (@BMCProTeam), @SanderArmee (@Lotto_Soudal), @andrei_007 (@AstanaTeam) et @freveuchelen (WGG)
? Keystone/ @Bottjc #TDR2017 pic.twitter.com/JBOCXcqCXi— Tour de Romandie (@TourDeRomandie) April 27, 2017
Things were looking a little foreboding near the peak of the next climb.
Meanwhile on the top of the only 2nd cat climb of the day, Le Châtelard… #TDR2017 pic.twitter.com/FoKq2Z9K3s
— Astana Pro Team (@AstanaTeam) April 27, 2017
The weather didn’t deter Armée from padding his lead at the crest. With 25-km to go the race passed through the finishing town of Bulle to take on a circuit. By the time the quartet splashed through the finish line, its lead was 3:00.
When Armée dropped back, the peloton seemed to lose interest in the chase. Suddenly it was Grivko, Küng and Wanty-Groupe Gobert’s Frederik Veuchelen for the win. Grivko’s attack before the 2.3-km drag dislodged Veuchelen.
The Swiss-Ukrainian duo went under the red kite with a 50-second gap, enough for cat and mouse games if necessary. Grivko forced Küng to lead it out, but the 23-year-old was too strong for the more experienced rider and earned his first win since taking Stage 4 of the 2015 Tour de Romandie.
Friday’s stage is a more traditional sprinter’s course.
2017 Tour de Romandie Stage 2
1) Stefan Küng (Switzerland/BMC) 3:33:15
2) Andrei Grivko (Ukraine/Astana) s.t.
3) Sonny Colbrelli (Italy/Bahrain-Merida) +0:20
14) Hugo Houle (Canada/AG2R) s.t.
2017 Tour de Romandie GC
1) Fabio Felline (Italy/Trek-Segafredo) 8:12:42
2) Maximilian Schachmann (Germany/Quick Step) +0:08
3) Jesus Herrada (Spain/Movistar) s.t.
75) Hugo Houle (Canada/AG2R) +3:35