Marcel Kittel wins shortened Stage 1 of Tour de Romandie
German sprint king Marcel Kittel triumphed in Wednesday’s first stage of the Tour de Romandie, pulling back a pouncing Michael Albasini in the final 100-metres. It was Kittel’s seventh victory of the season. Tuesday’s prologue winner Jon Izagirre (Spain/Movistar) keeps the leader’s yellow jersey.
A fantastic teamwork sees @marcelkittel notch the team's 23rd win of the season! #WayToRide #greatjob @TDWsport pic.twitter.com/I5qyHXNO6q
— Deceuninck-QuickStep (@deceuninck_qst) April 27, 2016
Word came early that the first stage would be shortened because of snow on the Cat. 2 Col des Etroits, which crested at the 47.9-km mark. The riders signed in La Chaux-de-Fonds, where Tuesday’s prologue was held, and then transferred to Mathod, clipping off 58 of the scheduled 167-km.
Good decision to shorten the stage @TourDeRomandie. pic.twitter.com/xWchun3CwP
— Marcel Wyss (@WyssMarcel) April 27, 2016
The new start point was downright bucolic.
Just arrived on the new start of @TourDeRomandie but the rollers are already on the flowers… pic.twitter.com/DDYxK0aWd8
— roccia (@davideformolo) April 27, 2016
The field still had three Cat. 3 climbs ahead of it. The 70th edition of the Tour de Romandie needed a first King of the Mountains, so Sander Armée (Belgium/Lotto-Soudal) lit out after the pink jersey prize. Two chasers couldn’t make inroads on the Belgian’s lead, while Movistar and Sky shared the work in the peloton.
Armée bounced over the three climbs solo, while the two chasers nabbed their own KOM points caught in the middle. Back in the peloton Orica-GreenEdge and AG2R became interested, with Canadian Christian Meier seen working at the front.
On the final Cat. 3 Movistar put the pedal to the medal and popped a lot of riders off the back. Thirteen-kilometres remained when Armée was brought to heel. Movistar had Tinkoff and Lampre for company at the front leading into the final 4-km.
Orica-GreenEdge took over and one wondered, Where was Marcel Kittel’s Etixx-QuickStep? The dark blue clad squad was lurking and came to the front with 1.5-km to go. Albasini (Switzerland/Orica-GreenEdge) tried to jump Kittel, but the German was too strong.
Meier finished in the pack in 21st place and is 23rd on GC.
Unless it is cancelled, the first of two summit finishes is on Thursday.
2016 Tour de Romandie Stage 1
1) Marcel Kittel (Germany/Etixx-QuickStep) 2:27:46
2) Niccolo Bonifazio (Italy/Trek-Segafredo) s.t.
3) Michael Albasini (Switzerland/Orica-GreenEdge) s.t.
21) Christian Meier (Canada/Orica-GreenEdge) s.t.
99) Ryder Hesjedal (Canada/Trek-Segafredo) s.t.
2016 Tour de Romandie GC
1) Jon Izagirre (Spain/Movistar) 2:33:19
2) Tom Dumoulin (The Netherlands/Giant-Alpecin) +0:06
3) Geraint Thomas (Great Britain/Sky) +0:07
23) Christian Meier (Canada/Orica-GreenEdge) +0:19
59) Ryder Hesjedal (Canada/Trek-Segafredo) +0:27
