Team Sky lost the yellow jersey today, but Wiggins is still well placed for GC victory
By Graham Healy
The queen stage of the Tour de Romandie today, Saturday, from Busse to Sion offered Daniel Martin (Garmin-Barracuda) his last opportunity for a stage win and a possible bid for the leadership of the race.
However, Team Sky clearly had not read the script and imposed themselves on the action in an effort to protect the yellow jersey of Bradley Wiggins. It meant the head of race did not really fragment despite the four major climbs of the day, with a group of 39 arriving at the finish together to fight for the stage.
In the end it was Luis Leon Sanchez (Rabobank) who sprinted in for consecutive stage victors and with time bonuses he lifts the yellow jersey from Wiggins’ shoulders; now leading the Briton by nine seconds,
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However, with the final stage tomorrow a 16.5km TT, few would beat against Wiggins coming out on top of the GC.
Today’s 184-km stage would see the riders tackle one second-category climb and three first-category ascents.
Starting the stage there were over 60 riders including Dan Martin within one minute of overall leader Wiggins. His team would have to work hard to try and ensure he didn't lose the lead.
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Their cause wasn't helped by World Champion Mark Cavendish and Geraint Thomas both pulling out of the race.
An early escape of six riders was pulled back on the penultimate climb and there was then a counterattack, which included Martin's team mate Peter Stetina. However, Team Sky's Michael Rogers and Richie Porte drove the peloton along ensuring their lead didn't get too big.
Another of Martin's team mates, Andrew Talansky also made a bid to gain time on Wiggins on the final climb. The chase behind saw a lot of riders dropping off the back, but Martin managed to hang on going over the top as Talansky's effort came to nothing.
A fast descent to Sion saw the peloton split, but it would come back together in the last few kilometres.
Leon Sanchez was fastest of the lead group and his 10-second time bonus from his second stage win in a row saw him leapfrog Wiggins into first overall, to lead by 9 seconds.
Martin was 16th on the stage and this performance helped him move from 39th on GC to 26th.
Tomorrow's final stage is a 16.5km time-trial which includes a 1st-category climb of 400 metres, and it will offer a chance for Wiggins to regain the yellow jersey.
Matt Brammeier (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) was listed as a DNF on today’s stage, as were 13 other riders.
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