"Perfect leadout, but I think 3rd was the best possible" - Gianni Vermeersch impresses in opening sprint of 2024 Tour de Romandie

In a blistering sprint for the line on stage 1 of the 2024 Tour de Romandie, Alpecin-Deceuninck's Gianni Vermeersch bagged himself a creditable 3rd-placed finish, moving up to second overall in the general classification.

"I was a little bit surprised with 5km to go when Julian Alaphilippe attacked," begins Vermeersch's reflection of the day in his post-stage interview with Eurosport. "I was in the middle of the bunch then suddenly, I was in a dropped group. So it was a little bit high-stress, I only came back with like 2km to go."

Once getting himself back to the front though, attention quickly turned to the final sprint. Although Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team duo, Dorian Godon and Andrea Vendrame timed their move to perfection, Vermeersch was still happy with the leadout given to him by Axel Laurance.

"Axel actually did a perfect leadout, but I think 3rd was the best possible. The speed was so high, I could just stay in the wheel and try for 3rd," Vermeersch concludes.