The Irish riders in the Tour de Romandie had a difficult day yesterday when stage 1 split to pieces and the gaps were huge.
At the end of 168.4km from Neuchâtel to La Chaux-de-Fonds there were only 19 riders in the front group sprinting for victory.
That went to Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma) who had been 2nd to fellow Slovenian Jan Tratnik (Bahrain Merida) who lost 8:24 yesterday to the Roglic group.
Best of the Irish was Nicolas Roche. However, after a strong 15th in the prologue TT on Tuesday Roche lost time yesterday; placing 65th in a large group at 4:37.
Sam Bennett (Bora-hansgrohe) was 119th and Ryan Mullen (Trek-Segafredo) was 128th; both some 23:30 down on a day of big gaps.
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An early breakaway, on a stage littered with climbing, was chased hard all the day, making for a testing stage from early on.
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But it was the 4.2km Col de la Tourne with about 30km remaining that really split the field; the hard racing after it ensuring no regrouping.
Roglic got the better of David Gaudu; the 22-year-old Frenchman riding for Groupama-FDJ who is rapidly emerging.
Rounding out the podium on the day was Rui Costa (UAE Team Emirates). Geraint Thomas (Team Ineos) was also in the lead group, starting to show some form finally this season.
Roglic now leads overall from Costa by 10 seconds, with Gaudu next at 12 seconds and Thomas in 4th at 13 seconds.
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