UAE Team Emirates’ Rui Costa continued his strong start to the season as he secured another top-10 finish during stage one of the Tour de Romandie on Wednesday.
It was Costa’s seventh such finish this season, having clinched three top-10s at the Tour of Oman in February.
Astana rider Omar Fraile won the first stage on Wednesday as Slovenian Primoz Roglic claimed the overall lead.
Fraile edged out Italian Sonny Colbrelli in a sprint finish at the end of the 166.6km ride to Delemont to continue Astana’s
excellent recent spell with their 14th win of the season.
Australian Michael Matthews, who won Tuesday’s prologue, was dropped on the final climb and lost the yellow jersey to Roglic.
It was a commendable performance nonetheless from Costa, who said: “We raced with the right mentality, according to the indications that the sports directors gave in the pre-race meeting.”
“We controlled the race with Bono and then on the last climb I tried first and then Dan Martin tried, and he created a good gap.
“In the end, the other teams kept it together. I gave it my all and took a good third place.”
Best for UAE Team Emirates were: Kristijan Durasek (29th), Dan Martin (30th), Anass Ait el Abdia (72nd), Darwin Atapuma (75th), Matteo Bono (110th), Roberto Ferrari (128th).
Thursday’s stage sees the peloton tackle a 173.9 km ride from Delemont to Yverdon-les-Bains in West Switzerland.
