Nothing prevents organizers from drawing a very short, and in this case very winding, prologue, and the organizers of the Tour de Romandie did not hesitate to do so, over 2,280km in the streets of Payerne, offering the opportunity a prestigious victory for the young Dutchman Maikel Zijlaard (24 years old).
We suspected that, in such an exercise, the differences would be slim. The Tudor rider won by less than 1 second (9 tenths) from Cameron Scott (Bahrain – Victorious) and by 2 seconds from Julian Alaphilippe. The Frenchman had “cut completely” since his 70e place in the Tour of Flanders, raced with a fracture of the head of the left fibula contracted during a fall at the Strade Bianche, to “resource” and train the way he likes, “ old “. Proof that it still works well.
Note that another Frenchman, Dorian Godon (Décathlon – AG2R), ranks just behind, 4th at 3 seconds. Nineteen riders are within 5 seconds, including the Spaniard Enric Mas (Movistar), the first of the favorites for the final victory. Everything obviously remains to be done. Starting tomorrow, the 1D stage between Château d’Oex and Friborg will offer a rugged route with six climbs listed.
