Vlasov wins the last stage and the Tour of Romandy

Euskaraz irakurri: Vlasovek eskuratu du Romandiako Tourra

the russian cyclist Alaksandr Vlasov (Bora-Hansgrohe) was awarded the Tour of Romandy (Switzerland) after winning the fifth and final stage, a 15.84 km time trial, with two thirds uphill between Aigle and Villars.

Vlasov, whose last victory came 84 days ago in the Vuelta a la Comunidad Valenciana (which he ended up winning), covered the course of the final time trial in 33:40 minutes, at an average speed of 28.2 km/h, and proclaimed winner of the race with 50 seconds ahead of the Swiss Gino Mader (Bahrain) and 55 on the German Simon Geschke (Cofidis).

The time trial, of 15.8 km, started from Aigle at an altitude of 383 meters, presented a first section of five flat kilometers and from there an uninterrupted ascent with a drop of 884 meters until reaching the finish line in Villars.

the australian Rohan Dennis (Jumbo Visma), Two-time world time trial champion, who started as the leader, only had the twenty-second fastest time (35:52) and finished eighth overall, 1:54 behind the winner.

The French Thibaut Pinot (34:47), the Dutch Steven Kruijswijk (34:45), the Italian Damiano Caruso (34:44) -winner of the Tour of Sicily this year- and the German Simon Geschke (34:11) followed one another in the provisional leadership of the stage. Gipuzcuan Ion Izagirre I had marked 35:28.

When Vlasov, until then third in the general, credited the best time passing through the intermediate control, with 18:40, the die seemed cast, with the hardest part of the route ahead. Indeed, his time of 33:40 at the finish completely ruled out the leader, who came with much lower partials, while Juan Ayuso managed only the ninth time (35:05) and could not stay on the final podium.

STAGE 5 CLASSIFICATION

1. VLASOV Aleksandr (BORA – hansgrohe) 33:40

2. GESCHKE Simon (Cofidis) 0:31

3. MADER Gino (Bahrain – Victorious) 0:36

4. CARUSO Damiano (Bahrain – Victorious) 1:04

5. KRUIJSWIJK Steven (Jumbo-Visma) 1:05

6. PINOT Thibaut (Groupama – FDJ) 1:07

7. TARARAMAE Rein (Intermarché – Wanty – Gobert Matériaux) 1:25

8. AYUSO Juan (UAE Team Emirates) 1:25

9. KUSS Sepp (Jumbo-Visma) 1:26

10. Ben O’CONNOR (AG2R Citroën Team) 1:40

GENERAL RANKING

1. VLASOV Aleksandr (BORA – hansgrohe) 18:00:59

2. MADER Gino (Bahrain – Victorious) 0:50

3. GESCHKE Simon (Cofidis) 0:55

4. AYUSO Juan (UAE Team Emirates) 1:22

5. O’CONNOR Ben (AG2R Citroen Team) 1:47

6. CARUSO Damiano (Bahrain – Victorious) 1:51

7. KRUIJSWIJK Steven (Jumbo-Visma) 1:52

8. DENNIS Rohan (Jumbo-Visma) 1:54

9. PLAPP Luke (INEOS Grenadiers) 2:08

10. RUBIO Einer Augusto (Movistar Team) 2:13

Alexander Vlasov