Tour de Romandie 2021 – Stage 1 [FULL STAGE]

April 28, 2021

Tour de Romandie 2021 – Stage 1 – Aigle – Martigny : 168,1 km

With the Spring Classics now done and dusted, it’s time to head to the Swiss Alps for the Tour de Romandie and one last stage-racing hurrah before the Grand Tour season officially begins. This year’s route features a record-breaking 12,500m of climbing as well as two individual time trials, making it a perfect warm-up for those riders targeting the Giro d’Italia or Tour de France. After a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tour de Romandie is back and will take place just a week before the first Grand Tour of the season – the Giro d’Italia – is set to start. To mark the Tour de Romandie’s return to the calendar, its organisers have concocted a grueling route with over 12,500m of climbing spread across six days of racing. Considering two of these six days are individual time trials, we’re in for some incredibly hilly days in the saddle.

Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) claimed victory on stage 1 of the Tour de Romandie in a bunch sprint in Martigny.

Eleven years on from his last appearance in the Swiss race in his first season as a pro, the three-time world champion got the better of Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain Victorious) in a tight finish from a reduced peloton.

Patrick Bevin (Israel-Start Up Nation), who’d battled with Sagan for Colbrelli’s wheel as the sprint opened up, claimed the final spot on the podium.

Rohan Dennis finished safely in the bunch to retain his overall lead, with Ineos Grenadiers retaining the overall podium positions with Geraint Thomas and Richie Porte.

It was a bunch sprint but a tough day in the saddle, with 2200 metres of elevation gain on the 168km route, drizzling rain, and a block headwind on the 20km run-in to Martigny. Elia Viviani (Cofidis) and Chris Froome (Israel Start-Up Nation) were dropped but most of the expected sprint contenders and overall hopefuls arrived in the main peloton after four laps of a 33km circuit over the short third-category climbs of Produit and Chamoson.

After the day’s six-man breakaway was reeled in, Remi Cavagna (Deceuninck-QuickStep) tried some speculative attacks on the run-in but Bahrain were prominent in the peloton and went on to lead out the sprint, with Jan Tratnik taking Colbrelli all the way to the last 250 metres.

When Colbrelli hit the wind, Sagan moved out from behind Bevin and jostled for a place in the slipstream before moving right to sprint down the centre of the road. He got in front and held his speed to the line, as Colbrelli shook his head in frustration, rueful at going too early.

How it unfolded

A breakaway of six riders formed on the opening part of the course, leading up to the early climb of La Rasse. In there were: Filippo Conca (Lotto Soudal), Joel Suter (Switzerland), Manuele Boaro (Astana Premier Tech), Alexis Gougeard (AG2R Citroën), Thymen Arensman (DSM) and Rob Power (Qhubeka-Assos). There was a lone chaser in Thomas Champion (Cofidis) but he never made it across.

Suter made his intentions clear by being first to the top of La Rasse, adding to his growing tally of mountains classification points on the two climbs on the opening lap of the circuit.

The first climb of Produit was 2.6km long with an average gradient of 7.2 per cent and slopes of 12 per cent on a narrow winding road through hillside vineyards. After a steep, winding descent, the climb of Chamoson was steadier and wider, 2.2k long with an average gradient of 5.9 per cent.

The break built a maximum lead of six minutes but it was down to 4:15 by the start of the second lap. Suter led over both climbs again and Ineos brought the gap down to 3:30 before letting it go back out to 4:30 at the start of the third lap.

Suter once again fought his way to the top of Produit in pole position, and carried his effort over the top and onto the descent. He held his lead to the top of Chamoson to secure the mountains jersey before slotting back into the break.

On the last part of that third lap, the peloton lifted the pace significantly, bringing the gap down to just two minutes. The charge continued on the final lap as teams battled for position ahead of the climbs, which this time would be taken a lot faster.

The gap plummeted and the six escapees started Produit with just 20 seconds in hand. Gougeard was the first to fall away, as Suter went on the move once again, but it was Arensman who emerged as the strongest from the break.

He held the bunch at just under 20 seconds as all his former companions were caught on the climb by a thinning peloton led by Ineos’ Filippo Ganna. BikeExchange took charge towards the top and on the descent, but Arensman took his lead onto and over the Chamoson climb.

By that point, however, the gap was tiny, and he was caught with 21km to go. Cavagna then tried the first of his long-range attacks, before BikeExchange, sensing some sprinters had been dropped, took it up for Dion Smith. They rode so hard that their two riders on the front gapped the rest of the bunch for a short while.

Cavagna went again with 11.5km to go, this time with teammate Mattia Cattaneo. They were marked by Damien Howson (BikeExchange) and Sebastien Reichenbach (Groupama-FDJ), who were mere passengers. Cattaneo tried a surprise attack but they were all back in the bunch with 8km to go.

Bora and Bahrain set the pace in the final kilometres, with Israel coming to the fore late on. It was Bahrain who took control in the final kilometre, with Tratnik leading Colbrelli through the final right-hand bend. The Italian opened up but perhaps went too early, and Sagan was well positioned to claim the second win of his season.

Results :
1 Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe 4:12:40
2 Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain Victorious
3 Patrick Bevin (NZl) Israel Start-up Nation
4 Andrea Pasqualon (Ita) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
5 Alessandro Covi (Ita) UAE Team Emirates
6 Magnus Cort (Den) EF Education-Nippo
7 Dion Smith (NZl) Team BikeExchange
8 Clement Venturini (Fra) AG2R Citroën Team
9 Mattia Cattaneo (Ita) Deceuninck-QuickStep
10 Jacopo Mosca (Ita) Trek-Segafredo
11 Rui Costa (Por) UAE Team Emirates
12 Marc Hirschi (Swi) UAE Team Emirates
13 Jan Bakelants (Bel) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
14 Carlos Barbero (Spa) Team Qhubeka Assos
15 Davide Villella (Ita) Movistar Team
16 Sepp Kuss (USA) Jumbo-Visma
17 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Bora-Hansgrohe
18 Jack Haig (Aus) Bahrain Victorious
19 Dries Devenyns (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStep
20 Fausto Masnada (Ita) Deceuninck-QuickStep
21 Lucas Hamilton (Aus) Team BikeExchange
22 Damiano Caruso (Ita) Bahrain Victorious
23 Stefan Küng (Swi) Groupama-FDJ
24 Ion Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Astana-Premier Tech
25 Gorka Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Astana-Premier Tech
26 Damien Howson (Aus) Team BikeExchange
27 Jesus Herrada (Spa) Cofidis
28 Niklas Eg (Den) Trek-Segafredo
29 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers
30 Richie Porte (Aus) Ineos Grenadiers
31 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Lotto Soudal
32 Jonathan Caicedo (Ecu) EF Education-Nippo
33 Diego Ulissi (Ita) UAE Team Emirates
34 Reto Hollenstein (Swi) Israel Start-up Nation
35 Michael Woods (Can) Israel Start-up Nation
36 Sergio Henao Montoya (Col) Team Qhubeka Assos
37 Antonio Tiberi (Ita) Trek-Segafredo
38 Rémi Cavagna (Fra) Deceuninck-QuickStep
39 Steff Cras (Bel) Lotto Soudal
40 Ben O’Connor (Aus) AG2R Citroën Team
41 Jos van Emden (Ned) Jumbo-Visma
42 Matteo Badilatti (Swi) Groupama-FDJ
43 Kobe Goossens (Bel) Lotto Soudal
44 Christoph Pfingsten (Ger) Jumbo-Visma
45 Jan Tratnik (Slo) Bahrain Victorious
46 Jake Stewart (GBr) Groupama-FDJ
47 Chad Haga (USA) Team DSM
48 Mattias Skjelmose (Den) Trek-Segafredo
49 Marc Soler (Spa) Movistar Team
50 Clément Champoussin (Fra) AG2R Citroën Team
51 Tsgabu Grmay (Eth) Team BikeExchange
52 Alex Dowsett (GBr) Israel Start-up Nation
53 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Jumbo-Visma
54 Tejay van Garderen (USA) EF Education-Nippo
55 Simone Petilli (Ita) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
56 Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo
57 Kenny Elissonde (Fra) Trek-Segafredo
58 Rein Taaramäe (Est) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
59 Andreas Kron (Den) Lotto Soudal
60 Christopher Hamilton (Aus) Team DSM
61 Antwan Tolhoek (Ned) Jumbo-Visma
62 Dario Cataldo (Ita) Movistar Team
63 Gijs Leemreize (Ned) Jumbo-Visma
64 Ilan Van Wilder (Bel) Team DSM
65 Thymen Arensman (Ned) Team DSM
66 Cristian Camilo Muñoz Lancheros (Col) UAE Team Emirates
67 Sébastien Reichenbach (Swi) Groupama-FDJ
68 Mathias Frank (Swi) AG2R Citroën Team
69 Rohan Dennis (Aus) Ineos Grenadiers
70 Brent Bookwalter (USA) Team BikeExchange
71 Eddie Dunbar (Irl) Ineos Grenadiers
72 Ben Zwiehoff (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe
73 Miguel Angel Lopez Moreno (Col) Movistar Team
74 Jose Herrada (Spa) Cofidis
75 Louis Meintjes (RSA) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
76 Hermann Pernsteiner (Aut) Bahrain Victorious
77 Jaakko Hänninen (Fin) AG2R Citroën Team
78 Filippo Ganna (Ita) Ineos Grenadiers
79 Guillaume Boivin (Can) Israel Start-up Nation 0:03:34
80 Filippo Conca (Ita) Lotto Soudal
81 Tom Bohli (Swi) Cofidis
82 Stefan Bissegger (Swi) EF Education-Nippo
83 Lawrence Naesen (Bel) AG2R Citroën Team
84 Davide Martinelli (Ita) Astana-Premier Tech
85 Stephen Williams (GBr) Bahrain Victorious
86 Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) Team Qhubeka Assos
87 Sander Armée (Bel) Team Qhubeka Assos
88 Manuele Boaro (Ita) Astana-Premier Tech
89 Marco Brenner (Ger) Team DSM
90 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe
91 Joel Suter (Swi) Swiss National Team
92 Fabian Lienhard (Swi) Groupama-FDJ
93 Chris Froome (GBr) Israel Start-up Nation
94 Matthew Holmes (GBr) Lotto Soudal
95 Natnael Berhane (Eri) Cofidis
96 Alex Edmondson (Aus) Team BikeExchange
97 Dylan Sunderland (Aus) Team Qhubeka Assos
98 Andrey Amador (CRc) Ineos Grenadiers
99 Rodrigo Contreras Pinzon (Col) Astana-Premier Tech
100 Diego Camargo Pineda (Col) EF Education-Nippo
101 Julien El Fares (Fra) EF Education-Nippo
102 Owain Doull (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers
103 Elia Viviani (Ita) Cofidis
104 Matteo Moschetti (Ita) Trek-Segafredo
105 Romain Seigle (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
106 Maximiliano Richeze (Arg) UAE Team Emirates
107 Jan Hirt (Cze) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
108 Felix Gall (Aut) Team DSM
109 Alexis Gougeard (Fra) AG2R Citroën Team 0:07:22
110 Joab Schneiter (Swi) Swiss National Team
111 Iljo Keisse (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStep
112 Matthias Reutimann (Swi) Swiss National Team
113 Thomas Champion (Fra) Cofidis
114 Nico Denz (Ger) Team DSM
115 Rob Power (Aus) Team Qhubeka Assos
116 Cyrille Thiery (Swi) Swiss National Team
117 Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Cofidis 0:10:36
118 Charlie Quarterman (GBr) Trek-Segafredo
119 Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
120 Simon Pellaud (Swi) Swiss National Team
121 Josef Cerny (Cze) Deceuninck-QuickStep
122 Juraj Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe
123 Jordi Meeus (Bel) Bora-Hansgrohe
124 Oliviero Troia (Ita) UAE Team Emirates
125 Mathias Norsgaard (Den) Movistar Team
126 Mathias Fluckiger (Swi) Swiss National Team
127 Mads Würtz Schmidt (Den) Israel Start-up Nation
128 Gerben Thijssen (Bel) Lotto Soudal
129 Phil Bauhaus (Ger) Bahrain Victorious
130 Tony Martin (Ger) Jumbo-Visma
131 Ian Garrison (USA) Deceuninck-QuickStep
132 Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana-Premier Tech
133 Javier Romo Oliver (Spa) Astana-Premier Tech
134 Johan Jacobs (Swi) Movistar Team
135 Albert Torres Barcelo (Spa) Movistar Team

General Classification after Stage 1 :
1 Rohan Dennis (Aus) Ineos Grenadiers 4:18:06
2 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers 0:00:09
3 Richie Porte (Aus) Ineos Grenadiers
4 Rémi Cavagna (Fra) Deceuninck-QuickStep 0:00:11
5 Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:12
6 Jan Tratnik (Slo) Bahrain Victorious 0:00:13
7 Patrick Bevin (NZl) Israel Start-up Nation 0:00:14
8 Jesus Herrada (Spa) Cofidis
9 Marc Hirschi (Swi) UAE Team Emirates 0:00:15
10 Mattia Cattaneo (Ita) Deceuninck-QuickStep
11 Filippo Ganna (Ita) Ineos Grenadiers
12 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:16
13 Ilan Van Wilder (Bel) Team DSM
14 Sepp Kuss (USA) Jumbo-Visma
15 Stefan Küng (Swi) Groupama-FDJ 0:00:17
16 Magnus Cort (Den) EF Education-Nippo
17 Rui Costa (Por) UAE Team Emirates 0:00:19
18 Miguel Angel Lopez Moreno (Col) Movistar Team
19 Jack Haig (Aus) Bahrain Victorious
20 Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain Victorious
21 Ion Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Astana-Premier Tech 0:00:21
22 Thymen Arensman (Ned) Team DSM
23 Chad Haga (USA) Team DSM
24 Diego Ulissi (Ita) UAE Team Emirates 0:00:22
25 Fausto Masnada (Ita) Deceuninck-QuickStep 0:00:23
26 Antonio Tiberi (Ita) Trek-Segafredo 0:00:24
27 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Jumbo-Visma
28 Gorka Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Astana-Premier Tech 0:00:25
29 Michael Woods (Can) Israel Start-up Nation
30 Ben Zwiehoff (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe
31 Ben O’Connor (Aus) AG2R Citroën Team
32 Alex Dowsett (GBr) Israel Start-up Nation 0:00:26
33 Jose Herrada (Spa) Cofidis 0:00:27
34 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Lotto Soudal
35 Marc Soler (Spa) Movistar Team
36 Matteo Badilatti (Swi) Groupama-FDJ
37 Steff Cras (Bel) Lotto Soudal
38 Mattias Skjelmose (Den) Trek-Segafredo
39 Damiano Caruso (Ita) Bahrain Victorious
40 Clément Champoussin (Fra) AG2R Citroën Team 0:00:28
41 Hermann Pernsteiner (Aut) Bahrain Victorious
42 Dries Devenyns (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStep
43 Damien Howson (Aus) Team BikeExchange 0:00:29
44 Kenny Elissonde (Fra) Trek-Segafredo
45 Christopher Hamilton (Aus) Team DSM
46 Jan Bakelants (Bel) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux 0:00:30
47 Niklas Eg (Den) Trek-Segafredo
48 Lucas Hamilton (Aus) Team BikeExchange
49 Reto Hollenstein (Swi) Israel Start-up Nation
50 Christoph Pfingsten (Ger) Jumbo-Visma 0:00:31
51 Andreas Kron (Den) Lotto Soudal
52 Jos van Emden (Ned) Jumbo-Visma
53 Sébastien Reichenbach (Swi) Groupama-FDJ
54 Dario Cataldo (Ita) Movistar Team
55 Tejay van Garderen (USA) EF Education-Nippo 0:00:32
56 Andrea Pasqualon (Ita) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux 0:00:33
57 Davide Villella (Ita) Movistar Team
58 Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo 0:00:34
59 Mathias Frank (Swi) AG2R Citroën Team
60 Sergio Henao Montoya (Col) Team Qhubeka Assos
61 Rein Taaramäe (Est) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
62 Jake Stewart (GBr) Groupama-FDJ 0:00:35
63 Eddie Dunbar (Irl) Ineos Grenadiers 0:00:36
64 Kobe Goossens (Bel) Lotto Soudal
65 Gijs Leemreize (Ned) Jumbo-Visma
66 Alessandro Covi (Ita) UAE Team Emirates 0:00:37
67 Jacopo Mosca (Ita) Trek-Segafredo
68 Louis Meintjes (RSA) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
69 Simone Petilli (Ita) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
70 Brent Bookwalter (USA) Team BikeExchange
71 Antwan Tolhoek (Ned) Jumbo-Visma 0:00:38
72 Clement Venturini (Fra) AG2R Citroën Team 0:00:39
73 Jonathan Caicedo (Ecu) EF Education-Nippo 0:00:41
74 Dion Smith (NZl) Team BikeExchange 0:00:42
75 Cristian Camilo Muñoz Lancheros (Col) UAE Team Emirates 0:00:46
76 Tsgabu Grmay (Eth) Team BikeExchange 0:00:47
77 Jaakko Hänninen (Fin) AG2R Citroën Team 0:00:49
78 Carlos Barbero (Spa) Team Qhubeka Assos 0:00:52
79 Stefan Bissegger (Swi) EF Education-Nippo 0:03:45
80 Owain Doull (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers 0:03:54
81 Manuele Boaro (Ita) Astana-Premier Tech 0:03:56
82 Tom Bohli (Swi) Cofidis 0:03:59
83 Felix Gall (Aut) Team DSM
84 Stephen Williams (GBr) Bahrain Victorious 0:04:00
85 Rodrigo Contreras Pinzon (Col) Astana-Premier Tech
86 Romain Seigle (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
87 Andrey Amador (CRc) Ineos Grenadiers 0:04:06
88 Marco Brenner (Ger) Team DSM
89 Davide Martinelli (Ita) Astana-Premier Tech 0:04:07
90 Julien El Fares (Fra) EF Education-Nippo 0:04:09
91 Diego Camargo Pineda (Col) EF Education-Nippo
92 Alex Edmondson (Aus) Team BikeExchange 0:04:10
93 Matteo Moschetti (Ita) Trek-Segafredo 0:04:11
94 Guillaume Boivin (Can) Israel Start-up Nation
95 Filippo Conca (Ita) Lotto Soudal 0:04:13
96 Lawrence Naesen (Bel) AG2R Citroën Team 0:04:14
97 Fabian Lienhard (Swi) Groupama-FDJ 0:04:16
98 Sander Armée (Bel) Team Qhubeka Assos 0:04:18
99 Joel Suter (Swi) Swiss National Team
100 Natnael Berhane (Eri) Cofidis 0:04:19
101 Maximiliano Richeze (Arg) UAE Team Emirates 0:04:20
102 Matthew Holmes (GBr) Lotto Soudal 0:04:23
103 Elia Viviani (Ita) Cofidis 0:04:25
104 Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) Team Qhubeka Assos
105 Chris Froome (GBr) Israel Start-up Nation 0:04:26
106 Jan Hirt (Cze) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux 0:04:27
107 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:04:28
108 Dylan Sunderland (Aus) Team Qhubeka Assos 0:04:29
109 Nico Denz (Ger) Team DSM 0:07:48
110 Cyrille Thiery (Swi) Swiss National Team 0:07:50
111 Rob Power (Aus) Team Qhubeka Assos 0:07:54
112 Alexis Gougeard (Fra) AG2R Citroën Team 0:07:56
113 Thomas Champion (Fra) Cofidis 0:07:59
114 Matthias Reutimann (Swi) Swiss National Team 0:08:11
115 Iljo Keisse (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStep 0:08:18
116 Joab Schneiter (Swi) Swiss National Team 0:08:21
117 Josef Cerny (Cze) Deceuninck-QuickStep 0:10:54
118 Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana-Premier Tech 0:10:55
119 Tony Martin (Ger) Jumbo-Visma 0:10:56
120 Javier Romo Oliver (Spa) Astana-Premier Tech 0:10:57
121 Jordi Meeus (Bel) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:11:01
122 Charlie Quarterman (GBr) Trek-Segafredo 0:11:06
123 Mads Würtz Schmidt (Den) Israel Start-up Nation
124 Ian Garrison (USA) Deceuninck-QuickStep
125 Mathias Fluckiger (Swi) Swiss National Team 0:11:09
126 Johan Jacobs (Swi) Movistar Team
127 Phil Bauhaus (Ger) Bahrain Victorious 0:11:12
128 Oliviero Troia (Ita) UAE Team Emirates 0:11:13
129 Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) Groupama-FDJ 0:11:14
130 Mathias Norsgaard (Den) Movistar Team 0:11:15
131 Gerben Thijssen (Bel) Lotto Soudal 0:11:19
132 Simon Pellaud (Swi) Swiss National Team 0:11:20
133 Albert Torres Barcelo (Spa) Movistar Team 0:11:23
134 Juraj Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:11:29
135 Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Cofidis 0:11:45