Tour de Romandie (st. 2)
Anacona leads moves from Movistar Team in softer-than-expected climbs of Romandie's day two, with Albasini (OGE) taking yellow via sprint victory
Even though the first stage catalogued as mountainous in the 69th Tour de Romandie -169km from Apples to Saint-Imier, with four climbs rated Cat-2 and 3- wasn't as selective as expected with fifty riders getting over the final climb of La Vue des Alpes, the Movistar Team did really show they wanted to be on the move, with Nairo Quintana always protected by the likes of Amador, Erviti or Sutherland before some of the Blues went on the attack.
Winner Anacona was the most active from Arrieta and Laguía's side, with a series of moves started halfway through the climb and ending just before the top, a 13-man attempt which the favourites neutralized ahead of a really attentive Quintana. A late acceleration by Capecchi into the descent didn't have an effect either as the field sprint was seeked for by many squads; Michael Albasini (OGE) became the new race leader thanks to the win's bonus and an ill-timed mechanical from Geraint Thomas (SKY).
Castroviejo (13th), Anacona, Capecchi and Quintana were the four Blues into an elite group which now faces theoretically softer stages, leading up to a weekend with decisive rides on Saturday (mountain-top finish in Champex-Lac) and Sunday (ITT in Lausanne).