Zakarin outsprints Quintana but relegated in Tour de Romandie’s first mountain stage
In a surprise move 20-minutes after the conclusion of Thursday’s first mountain stage of the Tour de Romandie, the race jury relegated champion Ilnur Zakarin (Russia/Katusha), first over the line, and gave the win to Nairo Quintana (Colombia/Movistar). The two had contested the stage in a sprint. Quintana took the yellow leader’s jersey from teammate Jon Izagirre, who was 6th on the day.
Ilnur Zakarin (KAT) gana en Morgins; @NairoQuinCo, nuevo líder del #TDR2016. El grupo de Ion Izagirre, a 25”: pic.twitter.com/3TqjZJcv2Y
— Movistar Team (@Movistar_Team) April 28, 2016
Soon after the gun in Moudon, six fugitives including serial escapee Thomas De Gendt (Belgium/Lotto-Soudal) tore loose. After 75-km and situated at the foot of the first climb of the day, the Cat. 2 Sorens, the gap was 4:30. Marcel Wyss (Switzerland/IAM Cycling) topped the Sorens first.
The gap to the sextet dropped on a long downhill and flat leading to the stage’s conclusion. The final two climbs of the day, a Cat. 2 and Cat. 1, were squeezed into the final 23-km with only a short descent between them. After Movistar’s early work in the peloton, Sky drew the bunch closer to the breakaway. By the start of the Cat. 2 Les Champs, the lead was just under 2:00.
A steep clamber, the Les Champs made the escape fragment, with a trio continuing on in front. Meanwhile, FDJ took over the pace-making in the field. Chris Froome (Great Britain/Sky) flatted and had to chase back on.
Frenchman Pierre Rolland and a Cannondale teammate lit out after the breakaway with 18-km to go, carrying on with the men up the road as a quintet. Froome had just latched on when the pace went up and he fell off again. Rolland and South African Daryl Impey (Orica-GreenEdge) crested and plunged down the other side in the lead. The duo then found company in the form of a Movistar and BMC rider before the final climb to Morgines.
FDJ’s work absorbed the foursome with 8.5-km remaining. Quintana attacked with 6.5-km to go and at first nobody could follow.
#TDR2015 ¡Ataca Nairo Quintana a 6500 metros del arribo! Nadie responde al colombiano pic.twitter.com/UDnmKwXhA3
— CiclismoInternacional (@CiclismoInter) April 28, 2016
Then Zakarin bridged over. A high-powered chase containing Thibaut Pinot (France/FDJ), Rigobergo Uran (Colombia/Cannondale) and Rui Costa (Portugal/Lampre) could make no inroads into the gap.
In the last 2-km the Colombian-Russian move increased its lead. The road flattened in the final kilometre. Quintana attacked with 300-km to go but Zakarin nabbed him and flew around the Movistar man for the victory. The Colombian gestured like he didn’t like Zakarin’s line.
About 20-minutes later, the jury relegated Zakarin to second for his irregular sprint. The decision changed the GC gap from 10-seconds between Quintana and Zakarin to 18-seconds.
Assuming Movistar lodged a complaint to get Zakarin relegated, it's the sort of move that could bite them on the arse later. #youneedfriends
— Cycle Sport (@CycleSportMag) April 28, 2016
#TDR2016 It was absolutely fair victory of @IlnurZakarin. No doubts in it. Very strange decision.
— KATUSHA (@katushacycling) April 28, 2016
https://twitter.com/ProCyclingStats/status/725710655295217665
Ryder Hesjedal (Trek-Segafredo) was top Canadian in 39th.
Friday’s stage is a 15.1-km time trial with a profile similar to that of the prologue–a Cat. 3 hill sits right in the middle of the course.
2016 Tour de Romandie Stage 2
1) Nairo Quintana (Colombia/Movistar) 4:28:40
2) Ilnur Zakarin (Russia/Katusha) s.t.
3) Rui Costa (Portugal/Lampre) +0:26
39) Ryder Hesjedal (Canada/Trek-Segafredo) +4:27
53) Christian Meier (Canada/Orica-GreenEdge) +7:12
2016 Tour de Romandie GC
1) Nairo Quintana (Colombia/Movistar) 7:02:09
2) Ilnur Zakarin (Russia/Katusha) +0:18
3) Jon Izagirre (Spain/Movistar) +0:20
41) Ryder Hesjedal (Canada/Trek-Segafredo) +4:48
56) Christian Meier (Canada/Orica-GreenEdge) +7:25