Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Friday, April 28, 2023
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2022 Tour de France | 2022 Giro d'Italia
Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. - Dalai Lama
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Current racing:
- April 25 - 30: Tour de Romandie
- April 28 - 30: Vuelta Asturias
Latest completed racing:
- April 23: Liege-Bastogne-Liege
- April 17 - 21: Tour of the Alps
- April 19: La Fleche Wallone
- April 16: Amstel Gold Race
- April 3 - 8: Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco
- April 4 - 7: Région Pays de la Loire Tour
- April 9: Paris-Roubaix
- April 11: Paris-Camembert
- April 11 - 14: Il Giro di Sicilia
- April 16: Amstel Gold Race
We posted the report from stage winner and new GC leader Ethan Hayter's Team INEOS Grenadiers with the results.
Here's the report from second-place Juan Ayuso's UAE Team Emirates:
Young Spanish talent Juan Ayuso continued to show promising signs on his return from injury with an impressive 2nd place on stage 2 of Tour de Romandie from Morteau to La Chaux-de-Fonds (162.7km).
British rider Ethan Hayter (Ineos-Grenadiers) took the win and moves into the race lead.
Ethan Hayter takes the stage win.
Ayuso now sits 4th overall at just 11’’ behind Hayter ahead of the individual time-trial tomorrow Chatel Saint Denis (18.7km).
UAE Team Emirates takes the lead in the teams classification with Adam Yates at +24’’ with summit finish on stage 4 earmarked for his climbing talents.
Ayuso: “I did my best and I tried to get the win but I couldn’t claw Hayter back in the sprint. The team was strong and when we give our all we have to be happy. I felt good but I can feel my form is not quite there still, I suffered a lot on the climbs but I’m not worried as I know that will come with time. I think the strongest rider won today so congrats to Ethan.”
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Here’s the Tour of Romandie report from Romain Bardet’s Team DSM:
Looking to build on yesterday’s fourth place, Team DSM were back in action again today at the Tour de Romandie for the second road stage. On paper it was a more challenging stage than the previous day and the last time the finale was used only a group of 20 or so riders came to fight it out at the line. This year saw some attacks in the beginning of the day before a group of three forged on, and all Team DSM riders remained in the bunch.
As the kilometres ticked by the advantage for those ahead diminished and the pace in the peloton ramped up. On the most challenging and longest climb of the day with around 40 kilometres to go other teams increased the tempo and drastically thinned out the bunch to around only 60 riders and the break was caught. Chris Hamilton did some strong positioning work going onto the next ascent where Oscar Onley followed an early attack before Max Poole followed the next. The flurry of attacks continued with the team rotating well through in terms of who could follow, with Romain Bardet sat in the wheels.
Romain Bardet at the 2022 Tour de France. Sirotti photo
Despite more moves throughout the closing kilometres, no group was able to break the elastic and the stage would be decided in a reduced bunch sprint. Moving up well, Onley brought Bardet forward and protected his wheel with the Team DSM duo both launching their sprints in sight of the line. Pushing all the way to the finish Bardet took third place, and with it four bonus seconds on the GC, while Onley netted his first-ever WorldTour level top five finish in fifth place.
“It was another really good stage for us today,” expressed Bardet at the finish. “Everyone did a massive job to be in the front covering the moves when the race was hard on the final climbs. The finish was a bit similar to yesterday and we found a good wheel and I could sprint for a podium on the day.”
Team DSM coach Phil West continued: "Another tough stage in Romandie. We started the day again with a goal to protect our GC ambitions but also to really race for the day result. With the slightly shorter climbs today it was possible Alberto could also be there but in the end a GC fight played out a little and we also wanted to be part of that. The teamwork was really on point today and in the late final we wanted to engage in the attacks and seek opportunities but in the end a reduced group came together after the final climb for a sprint. Max, Oscar and Romain then did a great job in the fight for position and showed again we can fight with the best in these finishes, so all in all we can be happy with the day and look forward to the next stages.”
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And here's the Tour de Romandie report from Team Jumbo-Visma:
Team Jumbo-Visma set the pace in the peloton in the second stage of the Tour de Romandie. Leaders Tobias Foss and Thomas Gloag finished in the first group, in the same time as stage winner Ethan Hayter.
The peloton started the stage on French territory and finished more than 160 kilometers further in the Swiss town of La-Chaux-de-Fonds. The first part of the stage was uneventful, but the second part included five climbs.
Tobias Foss racing at the 2021 Giro d'Italia. Sirotti photo
Team Jumbo-Visma took control and quickly overtook a lead group of three riders. Robert Gesink then set the pace in the service of his leaders Foss and Gloag. Around 60 riders survived the Dutchman's attack, and Hayter sprinted to victory on the final straight. In the general classification, Foss reclaimed second place.
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"We decided during the race to take control because we saw opportunities", Foss said. "It wasn't easy, partly because of the wind, but the team was strong today. We got the final we wanted. I came short in the sprint, but I think Thomas and I had a good day. With the time trial coming up, I am happy with the position I am in now. Tomorrow, I want to go for the win."
Sports director Merijn Zeeman explained how he experienced the stage from the team car. "We wanted to make the race hard. On the steep climb, we wanted to see if we could go for the stage with Tobias and Thomas. Unfortunately, we didn't win, but we did a good job. We are now focusing on the next two days, where the classification will be decided", Zeeman said.
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