Savoldelli wins second stage at Tour of Romandie

Italy's Paolo Savoldelli won a sprint for the second stage of the Tour of Romandie in Vevey, Switzerland on Thursday. The Saeco rider, winner of the opening prologue, covered the 171.7km run between Tramelan and Vevey in 4:04:48 to come in ahead of Spaniard Manuel Beltran and Italian Dario Frigo, plus a pursuing peleton of eight riders. The Italian recaptured the overall leader's green jersey from Australian Bradley McGee, but has just a seven-second lead on second-placed compatriot Dario Frigo. "Everything is to play for in Friday's time-trail at Payerne. If the rider who has the green

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Results

By VeloNews Interactive

Savodelli takes stage 2 in Switzerland

Photo: Graham Watson

Italy’s Paolo Savoldelli won a sprint for the second stage of the Tour of Romandie in Vevey, Switzerland on Thursday.

The Saeco rider, winner of the opening prologue, covered the 171.7km run between Tramelan and Vevey in 4:04:48 to come in ahead of Spaniard Manuel Beltran and Italian Dario Frigo, plus a pursuing peleton of eight riders.

The Italian recaptured the overall leader’s green jersey from Australian Bradley McGee, but has just a seven-second lead on second-placed compatriot Dario Frigo.

“Everything is to play for in Friday’s time-trail at Payerne. If the rider who has the green jersey following this stage has a 30 or 40 second lead he would have won the race,” Savoldelli said.

And the favorite to take the time-trial is Paris-Nice champion Frigo, who won that event following the time-trial at the Eze Mountain pass.

“Today he is one of the strongest in this discipline. His only weakness is perhaps his lack of technique over a rugged route,” added Savoldelli.

The 27-year-old Frigo narrowly missed a win Thursday in the climb from Vallon, after he broke away with teammate Wladimir Belli and two other riders, but was caught.

Olympic road race champion Jan Ullrich of Germany lost further ground, finishing in 57th position at 5:31 behind.

Results

TOUR DE ROMANDIE, Switzerland, May 8-13
Stage 2 — Tramelan to Vevey

1. Paolo Savoldelli (I), Saeco, 171.7km in 4:07:48; 2. Manuel Beltran (Sp), Mapei-Quick Step; 3. Dario Frigo (I), Fassa Bortolo; 4. Felix Garcia Casas (Sp), Festina; 5. Roland Meier (Swi), Team Coast; 6. Oscar Sevilla (Sp), Kelme-Costa Blanca; 7. Oscar Camenzind (Swi), Lampre-Daikin; 8. Gilberto Simoni (I), Lampre-Daikin; 9. Sven Montgomery (Swi), Les Francaise Des Jeux; 10. Kurt Van de Wouwer (B), Lotto-Adecco, all same time.

Overall
1. Savoldelli, 8:13:21; 2. Frigo, at :07; 3. Garcia Casas, at :16; 4. Camenzind, at :24; 5. Wladimir Belli (I), Fassa Bortolo, at :25; 6. Sevilla, at :30; 7. Benoit Salmon (F), Ag2R Prevoyance, at :33; 8. David Plaza (Sp), Festina, at :34; 9. Kurt Van de Wouwer (B), Lotto-Adecco, at :35; 10. David Moncoutie (F), Cofidis, at :35.