Matteo Jorgenson started the queen stage of the
Tour de Romandie in second place behind Juan Ayuso, and ended still in second but behind Ayuso's teammate Adam Yates. The American thrived in the brutal summit finish, but it wasn't enough to fall into the lead of the Swiss race.
"I gave everything this stage. It was a deserved victory for Adam Yates. He is one of the best climbers anyway and showed that on this ride," Yates said in a post-race interview. As Juan Ayuso cracked the Movistar rider surged into the provisional yellow jersey, but on the rainy day he struggled in the final kilometers, keeping a high pace but not being able to keep up with Adam Yates. "That guy is extremely explosive. The moment he accelerated, I just couldn't keep up. I knew if I tried to follow him I would blow myself up."
"So I decided to just ride up at my own pace, with the other guys on my wheel. I did what I could, but he just deserves it." Jorgenson started the stage 12 seconds ahead of Yates following a strong time-trial yesterday in Châtel, but despite his best efforts he had to settle with a fifth place on the day, 21 seconds down on the Briton.
Sure enough the overall classification is not yet closed, however Jorgenson would likely only take the win now if something unusual were to happen to Adam Yates in the final day of the race. Jorgenson, who won the Tour of Oman earlier this year, has continued a highly impressive spring where he's also performed in the cobbled classics. He starts the final day of the race in second place 19 seconds en route to another very strong result.
