Tour de Romandie 2023: Sprint triumph brings Vernon leader's jersey

fotobureau Cor VosWhile most sprinters are dropped on the climbs in the first part of the race, the first group remains together in the run-up to the finish. Ethan Vernon wins the sprint of the decimated peloton in the streets of Vallée de Joux and moves into the overall race lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 1st stage 2023 Tour de Romandie

1. Ethan Vernon (gbr)
2. Thibau Nys (bel) s.t.
3. Milan Menten (bel) s.t.
4. Romain Bardet (fra) s.t.
5. Jacopo Mosca (ita) s.t.
6. Nick Schultz (aus) s.t.
7. Lilian Calmejane (fra) s.t.
8. Clément Venturini (fra) s.t.
9. Ivo Oliveira (por) s.t.
10. Quinten Hermans (bel) s.t.

GC after stage 1
1. Ethan Vernon (gbr)
2. Josef Cerny (cze) s.t.
3. Tobias Foss (nor) + 0.01
4. Rémi Cavagna (fra) s.t.
5. Nico Denz (ger) + 0.04
6. Joel Suter (swi) + 0.05
7. Ethan Hayter (gbr) s.t.
8. Mikkel Bjerg (den) + 0.09
9. Matteo Sobrero (ita) s.t.
10. Ivo Oliveira (por) s.t.

Race report
Julien Bernard, Michael Schär, Tobias Bayer and Jan Stöckli attack from the gun, while Dario Lillo tracks them down. The five open up a lead of over 2 minutes. That's all they get.

Bernard, Schär and Lillo are the remaining attackers after the first climbs. The three are reeled in with 74 kilometres to go, as Ineos is pushing with the goal to drop pure sprinters. The black-red squad succeeds and Cavendish et al are forced to chase. That is, until the ManX Missile abondons.

The first group remains together before Ethan Vernon sprints to triumph. He gains a time bonus of 10 seconds in doing so, which catapults him into the race lead.

Another interesting read: route 1st stage 2023 Tour de Romandie.