Michael Woods finishes in top half of short Tour de Romandie prologue

Jan Tratnik edged out Slovenian compatriot and reigning champion Primož Roglič in the Tour de Romandie’s time trial prologue in Neuchâtel, Switzerland on Tuesday. Roglič has taken two WorldTour stage races this year, the UAE Tour and Tirreno-Adriatico, and put himself in good position to retain his title. Michael Woods was 63rd, a mere 15-seconds behind Tratnik.

The Course

The opening time trial was of classic prologue length: 3.87-km, with enough corners to keep riders awake. A cobbled climb marked the middle of the route.

Today, the #TdR2019 begins with a prologue of 3.9 kilometres. The course goes through the city centre of Neuchâtel. Who will take the first leader's jersey in the @TourDeRomandie? ??

⏲️ Official start at 14h59 pic.twitter.com/rPqcSUbsCD

— Lotto Soudal (@Lotto_Soudal) April 30, 2019

New world hour record holder Victor Campernaerts (Belgium/Lotto-Soudal) was expected to be high on the leader board, but unfortunately he crashed and finished last.

Probably still dizzy after going round and round for 221 laps at 55 km/h in a velodrome. ? #TDR2019 https://t.co/yPU63VIlUe

— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) April 30, 2019

Woods was six seconds off of early leader Cameron Meyer’s intermediate time of 2:53, and finished with 5:21.

Rui Costa (Portugal/UAE Team Emirates) nudged Meyer off the hot seat with 5:11. It took about 15-minutes until chrono ace Tony Martin (Germany/Jumbo-Visma) clipped Costa by a second.

Kilian Frankiny (Switzerland/Groupama-FDJ) nearly came a cropper of an oblivious dog walker.

62e temps pour @FrankinyKilian en 5'35, et une chute évitée de peu. Faites attention ?#TDR2019 pic.twitter.com/Ze0DW6kZYL

— Équipe Cycliste Groupama-FDJ (@GroupamaFDJ) April 30, 2019

A Swiss rider, Tom Bohli of UAE-Team Emirates, usurped Martin’s throne with 5:07. In quick succession, Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) posted the fastest time before his compatriot Tratnik (Bahrain-Merida) overcame it.

The day’s podium was Tratnik, Roglič and Bohli, with Martin missing out on the steps by three seconds.

Movistar’s Colombian Carlos Betancur, who once came fifth in the Giro d’Italia and won the 2014 Paris-Nice, threw his casquette in the GC ring with a ninth place time. Geraint Thomas (Team Ineos), Felix Grossschartner (Austria/Bora-Hansgrohe), Steven Kruijswijk (The Netherlands/Jumbo-Visma and David Gaudu (France/Groupama-FDJ) also posted good times, but the gaps were small among all the GC riders.

Wednesday’s route features six Cat. 2 climbs. Cue Thomas De Gendt.

2019 Tour de Romandie Prologue
1) Jan Tratnik (Slovenia/Bahraim-Merida) 5:06
2) Primož Roglič (Slovenia/Jumbo-Visma) +0:01
3) Tom Bohli (Switzerland/UAE-Team Emirates) s.t.
63) Michael Woods (Canada/EF Education First) +0:15