GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – British cyclist Bradley Wiggins won the Tour de Romandie Sunday, finishing the six-day race by winning Sunday’s against-the-clock run under tough conditions. The final 16.5km leg was a loop downhill from Montana Village, just below the resort of Crans-Montan, to Mollens and back up the steep mountainside to Aminona, ending in Crans. High gusty winds gave the cyclists a tough time, but Wiggins finished in 28.56.60.
The Guardian reports that this is the first British win of the Tour de Romandie in the race’s 65 year history, and it gave a foretaste of the Tour de France, where Wiggins now looks like “one of the big favourites”. British newspapers waxed enthusiastic Sunday and Monday over the possibility that they have a real contender for the big French race in July.
British Cylcing reports that “Wiggins’ win came despite a mechanical problem – reported to be a derailed chain – which briefly delayed him only a few minutes into the stage, but showing the sort of confidence which suggests he has moved on to a new level this year, the national road race champion calmly picked up the pace again and rode on to victory.”
American Andrew Talansky was second in the time trial.
Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Swiss Olympic Champion Fabian Cancellara won the Tour de Suisse, coming in first in the final day time trial in Bern. Cancellara won gold in the time trial and bronze in the road race in the Beijing Olympics. He is not considered likely to win the Tour de France, which starts 4 July but could well take the yellow jersey in the first stage time trial in Monte Carlo. Details, swissinfo
