- By VeloNews.com
- Published 6 hours ago
Bradley Wiggins on stage two of the 2012 Tour de Romandie
Jonathan Hivert wins stage two of the 2012 Tour de Romandie
Frenchman Jonathan Hivert of the Saur-Sojasun team dominated an uphill sprint at the end of the Tour de
Romandie’s second stage. Bradley Wiggins (Sky) retained the overall lead Thursday.
Paris-Nice champion Wiggins, who took the race leader’s yellow jersey from teammate Geraint Thomas with victory on the opening stage, leads another Sky teammate, Michael Rogers, by seven seconds in the overall standings.
Dutchman Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) lies third overall, two seconds back.
In an undulating finale which also included a number of peloton-breaking roundabouts, a number of teams tried to dictate the pace in a bid to keep their leaders and potential stage winners at the front.
But it was Hivert, whose team is in the second tier Pro Continental division, who took the plaudits after 149.1 kilometers of racing between Monbeliaud-Moutier.
As the road moved gradually upwards towards the finish line, Hivert followed all the right wheels before overtaking Movistar’s Portuguese contender Rui Costa meters before the finish.
Costa finished second, ahead of multiple Tour de France stage winner Luis León Sanchez (Rabobank).
The third stage of the race, being seen by many as a pre-Tour de France tester for Wiggins and reigning yellow jersey champion Cadel Evans (BMC Racing), is held Friday over 157.6 kilometers from La Neuveville to Charmey.
Race results
FILED UNDER: News / Race Report / Road TAGS: Bradley Wiggins / Jonathan Hivert / Tour de Romandie
