Ethan Vernon sprints to victory after a chaotic days racing at the Tour de Romandie

Ethan Vernon won the Tour de Romandie opening stage in a sprint finish from a reduced bunch after a chaotic day that saw numerous abandons.

Stage one from Crissier to Vallée de Joux saw the riders tackle a rather hilly day, however, one that's suited to the sprinters. It featured three categorized climbs and no descent following the last. With all early breakaway riders caught with over 70kms still to go, the race was on.

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Just as the tv cameras began rolling on the stage, one of the pre-race favourites for overall victory, Team Jayco AlUla's Simon Yates was forced to abandon after suffering some form of stomach illness.

After the peloton summitted the Mauborget climb, INEOS Grenadiers took to the front and put the pressure on, looking to distance some of the sprinters that hadn't made it over the top of the climb as part of the bunch.

The likes of Fernando Gaviria, Alberto Dainese, Luca Mozzato and Giacomo Nizzolo were all minutes adrift behind meaning INEOS would have been growing ever more confident of a stage win through Ethan Hayter.

Two further big-name riders were then announced as having abandoned as the former World Championship road race-winning pair of Mark Cavendish and Rui Costa also had to step off the bike.

After a moment of hilarious confusion saw the riders in the group behind left scratching their heads as they reached a t-junction that was not on the road map, the final battle for places at the front commenced.

Despite the lack of some of the elite sprinters, the race was on at the front of the peloton. Remi Cavagna made a testing attack although was swiftly brought back.

As they went through the flamme rouge the washing machine effect at the front of the peloton was in full swing. Bahrain - Victorious, UAE Team Emirates, INEOS Grenadiers and Team DSM all battling it out for position.

But it was Soudal - Quick-Step's Ethan Vernon who took the sprint win ahead of Thibau Nys in second and Milan Menten in third.

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2023 Tour de Romandie Race Center - TV, Startlist, Profile & Previews

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