Tour de Romandie 2017: Yates bests Porte in two-up sprint to take overall lead

At 163.5 kilometres, the Queen Stage in the Tour de Romandie takes in four climbs. Simon Yates goes on the attack on the penultimate ascent. Richie Porte re-joins him on the last climb, yet the Englishman outpowers the Tasmanian in the ensuing sprint. Moreover, Yates is the new leader as Felline finishes almost 1 minute in arrears. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 4th stage Tour de Romandie

1. Simon Yates (gbr)
2. Richie Porte (aus) s.t.
3. Emanuel Buchmann(ger) + 0.30
4. Tejay van Garderen (usa) + 0.43
5. Rigoberto Uran (col) + 0.52
6. Diego Ulissi (ita) s.t.
7. Pierre Latour (fra) s.t.
8. Louis Meintjes (rsa) s.t.
9. Damien Howson (aus) s.t.
10. David Gaudu (fra) s.t.

11. Primoz Roglic (slo) s.t.
12. Ion Izagirre (spa) s.t.
13. Wilco Kelderman (nld) s.t.
14. Bob Jungels (lux) s.t.
15. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) s.t.
21. Andrey Amador (crc) + 0.59
31. Robert Gesink (nld) + 1.15
33. Chris Froome (gbr) s.t.

GC after 4th stage
1. Simon Yates (gbr)
2. Richie Porte (aus) + 0.19
3. Emanuel Buchmann (ger) + 0.38
4. Fabio Felline (ita) + 0.44
5. Primoz Roglic (slo) + 0.53
6. Ion Izagirre (spa) + 0.56
7. Bob Jungels (lux) s.t.
8. Diego Ulissi (ita) s.t.
9. Damien Howson (aus) + 0.59
10. Jesús Herrada (spa) s.t.

11. Wilco Kelderman (nld) + 1.00
13. Louis Meintjes (Zaf) + 1.08
14. Tejay van Garderen (usa) + 1.09
19. Rigoberto Uran (col) + 1.14
27. Robert Gesink (nld) +1.27
33. Chris Froome (gbr) + 1.36

Race report
It takes a while for the break away to take shape, but at km 26 Clarke, Kochetkov, Van der Sande, Armée, De Gendt, Cherel, Reguigui and Pasqualon force a gap. The eight race to a lead of more than 4 minutes before Youcef Reguigui can’t follow the pace while climbing the Jaunpass. De Gendt and Pasqualon are dropped later on.

Both on Jaunpass and Saanenmöser, KOM leader Armée is the first to crest.

On Col du Pillon Cherel goes solo when the gap is down to less than 2 minutes. He hits the top with a 1 minute lead over the peloton, Armée is second thus winning the KOM classification. Behind them Simon Yates jumps clear from the peloton with Emanuel Buchmann and Anass Aït El Abdia on his wheel. They re-join Clarke, Kochetkov, Van der Sande and Armée before they catch Cherel.

The front group tackles the last climb with a 48 seconds lead over the peloton. Immediately the group falls apart.

Froome is dropped on the lower slopes, while Porte goes on the attack to power to the last remaining leaders, Yates, Buchmann and Aït El Abdia.

Yates and Porte push on together and in the ensuing sprint the Briton outpowers the Tasmanian. As a bonus he takes the leaders jersey.

Check out the route of the 4th stage in the 2017 Tour de Romandie.