Quintana wins Tour de Romandie

Justin Davis 06:11 02/05/2016
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  • Winner: Nairo Quintana.

    Colombian climber Nairo Quintana won the Tour de Romandie on Sunday after a breakaway win in the fifth and final stage from Ollon-sur-Villars to Geneva for local talent Michael Albasini.

    In freezing rain an early breakaway formed and with the main contenders more concerned with keeping track of each other, Orica’s Albasini won in a sprint.

    During what is seen as a warm up for the Tour de France, Quintana, perhaps the sport’s best climber, moved top of the overall standings when he left the field trailing on Thursday’s second stage.

    Runner-up in the 2015 Tour de France Quintana went into the this stage with a 19 second overall lead on up and coming French climber Thibaut Pinot.

    Pinot managed second overall, while Quintana’s Movistar teammate Ion Izagirre came third.

    Pinot, also a climb specialist, sent out a warning, however, by posting the quickest time in Friday’s timetrial, faster even than Sky leader Chris Froome.

    The Briton saw his chances of overall victory blown by a puncture, but saved face with a solo mountain stage win on Saturday.

    Dutch hope Tom Dumoulin, who came close to winning the Tour of Spain last year, was fifth, while American all-rounder Tejay Van Garderen of Team BMC was 10th.

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