Aleksandr Vlasov powers to Tour de Romandie victory after time-trial win
The BORA-hansgrohe rider won stage five's mountainous time-trial by 31 seconds.
Aleksandr Vlasov (BORA-hansgrohe) put in a dominant time-trial performance to win stage five of the Tour de Romandie, securing overall victory in the process.
The Russian rider backed up yesterday's second-place finish, in which his teammate Sergio Higuita won the stage, with an impressive ride over the 15.84km mountainous time-trial course.
Vlasov completed the course in a time of 33 minutes and 40 seconds, handing him the lead of the race by 50 seconds to Gino Mäder (Bahrain Victorious).
Simon Geschke (Cofidis) surprised many by finishing second on the stage, 31 seconds down on Vlasov, and securing the final spot on the podium in the overall standings.
Rohan Dennis (Jumbo-Visma), who led the race at the start of the day, struggled with the steep gradients of the time-trial course and finished two minutes and 12 seconds behind Vlasov, dropping to ninth on GC.
HOW IT HAPPENED
A 15.84km time-trial with over 800m of climbing was always destined to shake up the GC standings on the final stage of the Tour de Romandie.
Leaving the start ramp in Aigle, the home of the UCI, the riders had four kilometres of flat tarmac to begin the time-trial before the climbing started.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
The 11.3km climb to the finish line in Villars had an average gradient of 7.4%, with some sections ramping up to 12.7%.
Given the mountainous parcour in Romandy, time-gaps on the line were vast, and Ion Izagirre (Cofidis) was the early pacesetter, recording a time of 35 minutes and 28 seconds.
The Spaniard moved into the hot seat after averaging 26.79km/h over the course.
Neither Ethan Hayter (Ineos Grenadiers) or Rémi Cavagna (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team), could trouble Izagirre’s time, both finishing over 50 seconds behind.
However, Izagirre’s time would eventually be beaten as the riders further up the standings left the start ramp.
Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ), fresh from his stage win at the Tour of the Alps, took the lead briefly after recording an impressive time of 34 minutes and 47 seconds.
Setting a scintillating time at the halfway checkpoint, Steven Kruijswijk (Jumbo-Visma) had the lead at the finish line for only a matter of moments before Damiano Caruso (Bahrain-Victorious) swiftly edged the Dutchman out of top spot by less than a second.
Geschke was the first top-10 rider to show his intentions, with an impressive intermediate split.
The German continued his fine ride right to the line, recording a time of 34 minutes and 11 seconds, half a minute faster than Caruso.
Yet the Cofidis man was no match for Vlasov, the BORA-hansgrohe rider beating Geschke by 31 seconds in the end with a time of 33 minutes and 40 seconds.
Vlasov averaged a speed of 28.23km/h over the 15.84km course, with Rohan Dennis (Jumbo-Visma) unable to match the Russian’s powerful display on the climb to Villars.
Dennis was 28 seconds in arrears to Vlasov at the intermediate split and that gap only widened as the Jumbo-Visma leader reached the steepest ramps of the climb.
The Australian national time-trial champion eventually came in over two minutes down on the BORA-hansgrohe rider’s time – handing over the overall lead of the race as a result.
Vlasov’s win caps the end of a successful week for his team, who come away from the Tour de Romandie with the GC win and two stage victories.
TOUR DE ROMANDIE 2022, STAGE FIVE: AIGLE TO VILLARS (15.84KM)
1. Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus) BORA-Hansgrohe, in 33-40
2. Simon Geschke (Ger) Cofidis, at 31 seconds
3. Gino Mäder (Sui) Bahrain-Victorious, at 36secs
4. Damian Caruso (Ita) Bahrain-Victorious, at 1-04
5. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Jumbo-Visma, at 1-05
6. Thibaut Pinot (Fra) Groupama FDJ, at 1-07
7. Rein Taaramäe (Est) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux, at 1-25
8. Juan Ayuso (Spa) UAE Team Emirates, at same time
9. Sepp Kuss (USA) Jumbo-Visma, at 1-26
10. Ben O'Connor (Aus) AG2R Citroën Team, at 1-40
FINAL GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1. Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus) BORA-Hansgrohe, 18-00-59
2. Gino Mäder (Swi) Bahrain Victorius, at 50secs
3. Simon Geschke (Ger) Cofidis, at 55secs
4. Juan Ayuso (Spa) UAE Team Emirates, at 1-22
5. Ben O'Connor (Aus) AG2R Citroën Team, at 1-47
6. Damian Caruso (Ita) Bahrain-Victorious, at 1-51
7. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Jumbo-Visma, at 1-52
8. Rohan Dennis (Aus) Jumbo-Visma, at 1-54
9. Luke Plapp (Aus) Ineos Grenadiers, at 2-08
10. Einer Rubio (Col) Movistar Team, at 2-13
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
-
Has cycling's most affordable pro bike brand just launched its aero machine?
Van Rysel set to equip Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale with new RCR-F in 2025
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Even if you ride a lot, here's why you shouldn't skip leg day at the gym
Think your legs get enough exercise? A little gym time can unlock big strength and performance gains.
By Greg Kaplan Published
-
2.28km in 2:55: The Tour de Romandie prologue which was over in a flash
Majority of riders opted for road bikes on technical course around the Swiss city of Payerne
By Adam Becket Published
-
‘A perfect week for us’ – Adam Yates wraps up overall title in Romandie
Briton will now turn his focus to preparing for the Tour de France
By Peter Cossins Published
-
‘We’re back to winning ways again’ - Ethan Vernon doubles up for Soudal Quick-Step at Tour de Romandie
The Brit surged to victory in a bunch sprint on stage one
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Scot, Shackley bounces back to the best results of her career
The SDWorx rider suffered concussion and a bout of COVID but closed her season with excellent excellent performances in the mountains
By Owen Rogers Published
-
'This isn’t hard you know': Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio outclasses Annemiek van Vleuten at the Tour of Romandie
The South African rider takes her first WorldTour victory on the stage two mountaintop finish at Thyon 2000
By Owen Rogers Published
-
Sergio Higuita wins stage four of the Tour de Romandie with powerful finishing kick
Bora-Hansgrohe recorded an impressive one-two on the Tour de Romandie's queen stage with Aleksandr Vlasov finishing in second place
By Adam Hart Published
-
Patrick Bevin sprints to victory on stage three of the Tour de Romandie
The 31-year-old opened up an early sprint to beat Ethan Hayter to the line.
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Ethan Hayter gets back to winning ways in stage two sprint at the Tour de Romandie
The Ineos Grenadiers rider outkicked the pack to claim his second stage win of the race.
By Tom Davidson Last updated