Froome Increases Tour Of Romandie Lead

Last updated : 28 April 2013 By Covsupport News Service

Team Sky's Chris Froome extended his lead in the Tour Of Romandie in Switzerland with a second place on the fourth stage.

Snow on Col de la Croix meant that the 188.5km Queens stage from Marly to Les Diablerets had to be re-routed.

The stage which start without Mark Cavendish and saw Marcus Burghardt (BMC), Tom Dumoulin (Argos-Shimano), Arthur Vichot (FDJ) and Matthias Brandle (IAM Cycling), get away taking a six minute lead after 80kms. 

Burghardt, who has the King Of The Mountains Jersey, Vichot and Tony Martin were still out in front by a minute with 18kms to go.

Vichot, who has been most of the day, was spent and Tony Martin went up the road on his own as Team Sky's Josh Edmondson and Peter Kennaugh abandoned.

In pouring rain on the base of Les Mosses, Martin was caught and the attacks came before Richie Porte marshalled the yellow jersey group as they started on the 8km plateau heading towards Les Diablerets finish line.

Katusha's Simon Spilak attacked, forcing Chris Froome, who was now without Richie Porte, to work on his own to stop any of his competitors gaining time on him.

Froome caught up to Spilak with just over three kilometres to go and the pair worked together to ensure that when they reached Les Diablerets, where Robert Millar had won in 1986.

Froome led them out but Simon Spilak got past him and took the win in a time of 5.10.00.

A minute and three seconds passed before Rui Costa and Alejandro Valverde finished third and fourth.

Froome now leads the General Classification by forty seven seconds from Simon Spilak and 1.21 from Rui Costa going into the final time trial.