Given the rise of cycling in Switzerland – with two WorldTour races in the country, brands like BMC based there, perfect cycling terrain in the Swiss Alps, a bona fide legend in the shape of Fabian Cancellara, and the emergence of IAM Cycling – it was surprising no Swiss rider had won a Tour de Romandie stage for ten years.
Finally, however, that anomaly has been righted, with Michael Albasini taking a richly deserved win on a day where the Swiss had certainly shown themselves.
Silvan Vellier (BMC Racing) and Reto Hollenstein (IAM Cycling) were part of the day’s break, while Johann Tschopp (IAM Cycling) crested the day’s lone climb first to move into the King of the Mountains lead.
And Albasini capped a great day for the home country, and in doing so continued a fine week for his Orica-GreenEDGE team after Simon Gerrans’ Liege-Bastogne-Liege win.
Whether the Swiss riders will play a big part in the remainder of the race however, remains to be seen.
