There was no photo. At Sprint, Matthew Brennan, a big favorite of the day, has dominated the first stage of the Romandie Tour. Even if its speed of speed is no longer to be demonstrated, the 2nd place of Aurélien Paret-Peintre is a little more surprising (see classification). “When I saw the list of committed and the course, I really wanted to sprint. I had it in mind, I knew it was a perfect arrival. But the team wanted it to be Stefan (Bissegger) for bonus, but it was not at best”reports to Directive Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale.
The runners quickly rolled the whole stage, 194 kilometers long and where it was necessary to chain three difficulties in the middle of the day. “Given the speed at which it rolled the whole stage, I told myself that it was not going to be a real sprint”indicates the Haut-Savoyard. In the final, he was able to benefit from the support of Callum Scotson. “He ideally placed me. I did not think that the last descent was also winding and it served me a lot to be in front”.
Ambitious in the general classification
He had studied the final well. “I knew there was the curve on the left. When it departs, I manage to go up. I did not want to have regrets, so I tried to throw from afar. I do a big sprint”. But it came across much faster. “When Matthew Brennan launches, we take a few meters. He puts us at least three bikes, there is not much to say. It’s hard to have regrets. He made a very nice start to the season so I’m still happy, it’s still a WorldTour race”.
Aurélien Paret-Peintre speaks of a “Nice start”. He does not spit on the six seconds of bonus taken thanks to his 2nd place in the streets of Friborg. “That’s always taken even if with what awaits us on Saturday and Sunday, it may not be significant, but you never know, it’s always taken”. For his first round of Romandie, he hopes to make a good general classification. “I know that on Saturday, it’s going to be difficult, but the legs are there”.
