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Michael Woods wins Tour de Romandie’s brutal queen stage, takes over race lead

Geraint Thomas crashes in sight of the line sprinting with the Canadian

May 1, 2021
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On a thrilling, brutal penultimate stage of the Tour de Romandie, Michael Woods took the victory and assumed the race lead. Woods was in a two-up sprint with Geraint Thomas when the Brit crashed with 30 metres to the line. Thomas had been on his way to taking over the race lead from Marc Soler, but finished 21 seconds after the Canadian and now trails Woods by 11 seconds.

Thomas crashes 30 metres from the line.

The Route

There was plenty of climbing in the rain on Saturday. Five categorized climbs awaited the riders over 161 km, including three Cat. 1 ascents. The 11.1, 7.6 percent Suen climb was the penultimate offering, leading to the mountain top finish of Thyon 2000, 20.8 km of 7.6 percent.

What happened on Friday?

In even worse conditions than Saturday’s, Marc Soler (Spain/Movistar) silenced his critics by attacking on the final climb of the day after a failed move from Woods. Soler earned the win and nabbed the yellow jersey. Race leader Rohan Dennis, who had been working for the GC aspirations of teammates Thomas and Richie Porte on Thursday, crashed late and came in in a group +1:21 of Soler. Woods was +0:22 and climbed to 16th from 21st.

On Saturday a group of seven bounced away on the first climb, Chamoson. By the top of the Suen, with Movistar and the Swiss national team whipping up the pace behind them, the fugitives tipped over with a 3:30 lead. Escapee Kobe Goossens of Lotto-Soudal took over the KOM lead from Joel Suter.

Word came that the first 3 km of descent of Suen would be neutralized because of heavy fog. The car neutralizing the breakaway was faster than the car holding back the peloton, so the gap increased again.



Thyon 2000

The fugitives started the big final climb with a 5:30 lead and there was no moving it for the first few kilometres, even with Movistar and Ineos swapping on the front of the peloton. Goossens was +1:42 of Soler and his breakmate Magnus Cort (Denmark/EF Education-Nippo) was only +0:59. Cort and Simone Petilli were the last breakaways standing.

Woods almost ditched ‘er taking off his rain jacket.

Rusty Woods almost comes to grief taking off his rain jacket.

Cort went solo out front.

Marc Soler decided to attack with 6.5 km to go. Woods marked him. Nothing came of it.

Woods marks a dig from Soler (yellow arms).

Cort was beginning to slow down, bringing Petilli closer. The next rider to try to get clear of the tiny yellow jersey group was Lucas Hamilton. Woods joined him and then bolted.

Petilli cruised past Cort with 4 km to climb. Woods then nabbed and dispatched the Italian.

Woods takes over the lead with 3.7 km to climb.

Ben O’Connor (Australia/AG2R-Citroën), Fausto Masnada (Colombia/Deceuninck-Quick Step) and Thomas closed on the Canadian. Thomas found Woods with 2.2 km to go.

Thomas, Woods and O’Connor inside the final 2 km.

O’Connor couldn’t hang. Thomas led under the red kite. Incredibly, just as the sprint started, Thomas crashed and struggled to cross the line about 21 seconds later, later saying that he tried to change gears but couldn’t feel his hands.

Woods faces a daunting final day 16.1-km time trial on Sunday.

2021 Tour de Romandie Stage 4
1) Michael Woods (Canada/Israel Start-up Nation) 4:58:35
2) Ben O’Connor (Australia/AG2R-Citroën) +0:17
3) Geraint Thomas (Britain/Ineos-Grenadiers) +0:21

Tour de Romandie GC
1) Michael Woods (Canada/Israel Start-up Nation) 17:37:35
2) Geraint Thomas (Britain/Ineos-Grenadiers) +0:11
3) Ben O’Connor (Australia/AG2R-Citroën) +0:21