Tour de Romandie 2021: Sagan sprints to victory, Dennis retains lead

foto: Cor VosAt the end of a race with 2,200 vertical metres Peter Sagan winst the 1st stage of the Tour de Romandie. The former World Champion outsprints Sonny Colbrelli on the line, while Rohan Dennis keeps the overall race lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 1st stage Tour de Romandie 2021

1. Peter Sagan (svk)
2. Sonny Colbrelli (ita) s.t.
3. Patrick Bevin (nzl) s.t.
4. Andrea Pasqualon (ita) s.t.
5. Alessandro Covi (ita) s.t.
6. Magnus Cort (den) s.t.
7. Dion Smith (nzl) s.t.
8. Clément Venturini (fra) s.t.
9. Mattia Cattaneo (ita) s.t.
10. Jacopo Mosca (ita) s.t.

GC after stage 1
1. Rohan Dennis (aus)
2. Geraint Thomas (gbr) + 0.09
3. Richie Porte (aus) s.t.
4. Rémi Cavagna (fra) + 0.11
5. Peter Sagan (svk) + 0.12
6. Jan Tratnik (slo) + 0.13
7. Patrick Bevin (nzl) + 0.14
8. Jesús Herrada (spa) s.t.
9. Marc Hirschi (swi) + 0.15
10. Mattia Cattaneo (ita) s.t.

12. Wilco Kelderman (nld) + 0.16
13. Ilan Van Wilder (bel) s.t.
14. Sep Kuss (usa) s.t.
15. Stefan Küng (swi) + 0.17
18. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 0.19
19. Jack Haig (aus) s.t.
21. Ion Izagirre (spa) + 0.21
22. Thymen Arensman (nld) s.t.
27. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 0.24
29. Michael Woods (can) + 0.25

Race report
Almost from the gun a breakaway of six riders jumps clear. Thymen Arensman, Alexis Gougeard, Robert Power, Manuele Boaro and Filippo Conca carve out a maximum lead of 6 minutes.

Arensman heads out alone in the last lap before he is reeled in with 20 kilometres remaining.

Sagan sprints to a commanding victory, besting Colbrelli and Bevin with a bike length.

The GC stays more or less the same, although Sagan and Bevin enter the top 10 thanks to time bonuses.

Another interesting read: route 1st stage 2021 Tour de Romandie.