Michael Albasini of Orica GreenEdge has won the second stage of the Tour of Romandie in Switzerland and takes over the race lead
The second stage which saw Geraint Thomas of Team Sky in the leader's yellow jersey and team mates Ian Stannard in Pink, Elia Viviani in Green and Luke Rowe in the white jersey after the opening team time trial, included four climbs on a 161km stage from Apples to St Imier.
Jonathan Fumeaux of IAM Cycling and Maxim Belkov of Katusha went straight on the attack and were 3.30 ahead after nine kilometres, four minutes ahead after forty kilometres and 6.50 after 68kms.
The duo kept going and were still 1.28 ahead with thirty five kilometres left before there was a crash which saw Jesper Hansen hit by a car opening its door.
Belkov and Fumeaux were finally caught with twenty two kilometres left just as the race leader suffered a puncture and had be brought back towards the peloton by Peter Kennaugh.
Pavel Kochetkov of Katusha launched a new attack and was soon joined by a group of nine riders on the final category two climb.
That group came back to the fold and Europcar's Fabrice Jeandesboz, attacked ahead of De Clercq, Silin and Anacon with an eleven second lead over the peloton which caught them with fifteen kilometres to go.
On the descent and Estonian Rein Taaramäe of Astana decided to chance his arm and he stayed away until there was only 2.3kms left.
Etixx Quick Step lead going into the final kilometre but Michael Albasini of Orica GreenEdge got away and took the win, beating Jarlinson Pantano of IAM Cycling and Julen Alaphilippe of Etixx Quick Step.
With time bonuses, Albasini now leads the race with a ten second lead from his Swiss team mate Ivan Santaromita, Chris Froome of Team Sky and another team mate in Rotherham's Simon Yates.