Morgins (Switzerland) (AFP) – Colombia’s Nairo Quintana seized control of the Tour de Romandie by winning Thursday’s second stage in Morgins after Katusha rider Ilnur Zakarin was stripped of his victory.
Quintana, who was jostling with fellow escapee Zakarin in a sprint finish, crossed the line in second behind the Russian, before the latter was downgraded by race officials for an irregular sprint.
The pair finished 26 seconds ahead of a group headed by Portugal’s Rui Costa, with Rigoberto Uran and Thibaut Pinot also clocking the same time in the Swiss mountain village.
Britain’s Chris Froome was slowed by a puncture 20 kilometres from the finish and found himself well off the pace even before the final climb of the 174km route from Moudon, the Tour de France champion finishing several minutes in arrears.
Quintana, who was second to Froome at last year’s Tour, took over the leader’s jersey from Ion Izagirre and goes into Friday’s 15.1km individual time trial around Sion with an 18-second advantage over Zakarin.
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