Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain Merida) expressed his disappointment after finishing second on Stage 1 of the Tour de Romandie (2.UWT) yesterday. The Italian was edged out for the win by Omar Fraile (Astana Pro Team) at the end of the 166-kilometre stage from Fribourg to Delémont that saw the arrival of a select group of about fifty riders.
“A second place in a WorldTour race is always welcome but this time there is a bit of disappointment. I had good legs and I missed out by very little to win,” said Colbrelli after the stage. “As the race developed, it could have ended better. At the sprint, I started from afar but the stage winner the Spaniard Omar Fraile anticipated me. We rode well and deserved more. Already tomorrow I will have another opportunity and I hope to do better “.
Bahrain Merida Directeur Sportif Harald Morscher added: “The team has proven to be strong and I regret not having finished all the work with a victory. Sonny has proven to have the usual grit and tomorrow we will try again “.
In the overall, Slovenian Primoz Roglic (LottoNL-Jumbo) has taken over the race lead from Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb). Rohan Dennis (BMC Racing Team) is in second place on the same time as the race leader with Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) in third, four seconds down on Roglic.
The 173-kilometre second stage will take the peloton from Delémont to Yverdon-les-Bains. The route is undulating with only one major climb, the Col des Etroits (5km at 6%), but with 60km to go and a good distance away the finish line.
