Tour de Romandie 2015: Albasini takes stage and leaders jersey

Tour de Romandie 2015: Albasini takes stage and leader’s jersey

Stage 2 in the Tour de Romandie features four climbs and a 15 km's drop after the last top. The race explodes just after leader Geraint Thomas puntured at the closing climb. He can't make it back when a group of favourites takes control. After a furious drop it all boils down to a bunch sprint and home-rider Michael Albasini is fastest. The Swiss takes the leader's jersey also. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 2nd stage Tour de Romandie

1. Michael Albasini (swi)
2. Jarlinson Pantano (col) s.t.
3. Julian Alaphilippe (fra) s.t.
4. Nathan Haas (aus) s.t.
5. Rui Costa (por) s.t.
6. Damiano Caruso (ita) s.t.
7. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) s.t.
8. Ivan Santaromita (ita) s.t.
9. Jan Bakelants (bel) s.t.
10. Ramunas Navardauskas (lit) s.t.

GC
1. Michael Albasini (swi)
2. Ivan Santaromita (ita) + 0.10
3. Chris Froome (gbr) s.t.
4. Simon Yates (gbr) s.t.
5. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) + 0.15
6. Pavel Kochetkov (rus) s.t.
7. Egor Silin (rus) s.t.
8. Joeri Trofimov (rus) s.t.
9. Simon Spilak (slo) s.t.
10. Julian Alaphilippe (fra) s.t.

Race report
Once the flag is dropped Jonathan Fumeaux and Maxim Belkov escape. They race race to a maximum gain of 7 minutes and then it goed down. When cresting the penultimate peak, Col Les Pontins, it’s 1’47”. Belkov took most KOM point at all peaks.

At the closing climb the duo is reeled in and immediately a new front group takes shape – Jeandesboz, De Clercq, Anacona, Silin and Santaromita hook up. But they don’t make it and a group with all GC contenders dives downhill. Thomas isn’t aboard as he is chasing after he punctured early in the climb. The Welshman can say goodbye to his leader’s jersey.

Rein Taaramäe attacks in the descent, but with 3 km’s left he is brought back and it all boils down to a sprint with a decimated bunch. Michael Albasini outperforms each and everyone and, after winning three stages last year, he powers to glory once again. Thanks to bonification seconds he is the new leader.