
After yesterday’s foray into the hills, more climbing awaited the riders on day three of racing at the Tour de Romandie this afternoon; with a tough 165 kilometre long stage from La Neuveille to Saint-Imier. It was an intense start to the day with lots of attacks where the team were present, before a strong six rider group featuring Chris Hamilton finally broke clear.
The group worked well together over the rolling and hilly terrain but the peloton didn’t allow their gap to grow too far, only ever reaching a maximum of two minutes and 45 seconds. As the kilometres progressed, their advantage ticked down and Hamilton’s group was caught by the bunch just inside the 30 kilometre to go mark. Unfortunately, Hamilton then abandoned the stage as a precautionary measure after feeling some muscle pain.
Heading into the final climb of the day, the team was to the fore with Felix Gall and Marco Brenner riding well to position Thymen Arensman and Ilan Van Wilder at the front of the bunch as the slope increased in severity. Arensman went on the attack, hoping to drag a group clear but the peloton kept them close and over the top of the ascent it was all back together. Attacks were expected on the run in but nothing came to fruition, with the day settled in a reduced bunch sprint finish, where Van Wilder did well to get up and take a strong seventh place finish for the team.
Pos. | Rider | Team | Time | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | COLBRELLI Sonny | Bahrain - Victorious | 4:21:42 | 60 |
2 | BEVIN Patrick | Israel Start-Up Nation | ,, | 25 |
3 | HIRSCHI Marc | UAE-Team Emirates | ,, | 10 |
7 | VAN WILDER Ilan | Team DSM | ,, | - |
28 | ARENSMAN Thymen | Team DSM | ,, | - |
61 | GALL Felix | Team DSM | 0:43 | - |
70 | BRENNER Marco | Team DSM | 5:25 | - |
90 | HAGA Chad | Team DSM | 7:32 | - |
126 | DENZ Nico | Team DSM | 18:27 | - |
1005 | HAMILTON Chris | Team DSM | -04:21:42 | - |