Elia Viviani was for the second time this week our team’s highest finisher.
Thursday brought a change of décor at the Tour de Romandie, grey clouds, spitting rain and strong winds changing the nature of the race. After a brisk start to proceedings, a breakaway of six eventually established, slowly but steady opening a five-minute buffer over a peloton which didn’t look too concerned about this move.
The damp day didn’t bother the escapees too much, who despite facing two classified climbs on the roads to Morges – a stage finish for the first time at the Tour de Romandie – rode strongly and entered the last 30 kilometers with more than two minutes in their hands. A few kilometers later, Stefan Kung (Groupama-FDJ) attacked, dispatching his companions, and powered to victory, a minute clear of the peloton, who didn’t risk in the finale which featured a couple of wet corners and roundabouts.
Italian Champion Elia Viviani sprinted from the bunch and took fifth on the line for his 11th top 10 finish of the season, while James Knox concluded this tricky stage safely in the pack and retained his eighth place in the general classification. The overall remained unchanged, but could be in for a significant shake-up on Friday afternoon, on the hilly roads of Romont, the small town that will host the start and finish of stage 3, punctuated by four ranked climbs.
Photo credit: ©Luc Claessen/ Getty Images
