Dylan Teuns celebrates in Romania — © AFP
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He was originally not going to start in the Tour de Romandie, but our compatriot Dylan Teuns grabbed the flowers in the first stage in line. Teuns, who was good for the victory in the Flèche Wallonne last week, eventually remounted Rohan Dennis in an uphill finish. The latter does take over the leader’s jersey from Ethan Hayter, who fell painfully in the final.
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Quinten Lafort
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The first stage in line of the Tour de Romandie promised fireworks in the final stage thanks to an uphill finish. Five early escapees took their chance on their way to Romont, but the five never got more than four minutes. Especially Team Ineos, with leader Ethan Hayter, was responsible for this. Our compatriot Laurens De Plus did some hard work in the pursuit on the early flight.
At the start of the last local round, the lead of the five in the front had already dropped to one minute. At 35 kilometers from the finish, Thomas Champion and Antoine Debons decided to shake the tree. As a result, the leading group dispersed. Not much later, the duo was there for the effort. In the pack, Team Ineos continued to pound, although Hayter hid behind the pack.
Hayter literally falls away
That choice would cost him dearly, because with 14 kilometers to go, a big crash in the peloton followed. And who was lying in the lawn? The unwary leader Hayter. Steven Kruiswijk, Ion Izagirre and Rigoberto Uran also fell to the ground. Due to the massive crash, the peloton was reduced to about 40 riders.
Rémi Cavanga saw his chance and tried to outsmart the thinned peloton. The French speed rider was caught two kilometers before the finish. Everything would therefore be played in the final kilometre. Juan Ayuso was the first to throw a bomb, but it was the virtual leader Rohan Dennis who unpacked with a powerful acceleration. No one seemed to have an answer ready. Dylan Teuns also had to pass, until our compatriot found his second breath and made up for 15 meters in the last 100 meters on the Australian.
Leader’s jersey as a consolation prize for Dennis
Teuns rushed to the finish line at a higher pace and Dennis had clearly launched his final shot a little too early. It was Teuns who was allowed to make the victory gesture for the second time in one week. Dennis could console himself with the leader’s jersey. Marc Hirschi completed the podium. Quinten Hermans finished in fifth place.
Thanks to the bonuses, Teuns jumps to fourth place in the standings, eighteen seconds behind Dennis. Felix Großschartner and Geraint Thomas, the numbers two and three in the standings, now follow 16 seconds behind the leader.
Tomorrow’s stage with start and finish in Échallens has 168.2 kilometers on rolling roads. One climb of the third category follows along the way.
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