LUIS LEON SANCHEZ sprinted to his second straight win at the Tour de Romandie, taking over the leader’s jersey after today’s stage four.
Spanish Rabobank rider Sanchez clinched the 184km stage from Bulle to Sion, taking a nine-second lead in the general classification. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ag2r-La Mondiale) and Branislau Samoilau (Movistar) finished second and third respectively in the huge group sprint.
Sky’s Bradley Wiggins, the overnight race leader, was involved in the sprint but gave up the yellow jersey because of the stage winner’s time bonus given to Sanchez. Wiggins’ team-mate Michael Rogers is third in general classification, 16 seconds behind Sanchez.
Tour de France champion and last year’s winner Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) finished eighth on the stage and is 23rd overall. After several small breakaways, there were about 30 riders in the lead group five kilometres from the finish.
Jesus Hernandez (Saxo Bank) tried to pull clear in vain, leaving Sanchez to power away and sprint to victory. The top 30 riders in general classification are separated by just 35 seconds ahead of the final stage, a 16.5km individual time trial.
