- HOT TOPICS:
- The new VeloNews.com (BETA)
Horner grabs lead at Romandie
Chris Horner (Predictor-Lotto) seized the overall lead of the Tour of Romandie on Saturday as Igor Anton Hernandez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) won the penultimate stage in Morgins.
"The Tour of Romandie is a great race and this was a great mountain stage, so it's a great win for a climber like me," Anton told Reuters afterward.
Anton Hernandez was off the front with a lead of some 10 seconds when Horner attacked with 3km remaining in stage 4, a rain-soaked, crash-marred 155.9km leg between Charmey and Morgins.
Thomas Dekker (Rabobank) and John Gadret (Ag2r) quickly grabbed his wheel, and soon it was a four-man break racing toward the finish in Morgins.
The leaders took a margin of 14 seconds into the final kilometer, and Anton Hernandez leapt away from the others to win the stage, with Dekker second and Horner third.
But it was Horner who took the leader’s yellow jersey, while Anton Hernandez moved into second overall at seven seconds back with Dekker third at nine seconds.
Paolo Savoldelli (Astana), who had held the race lead going into Saturday’s stage, lost ground on the final ascent, finishing 16 seconds behind Anton and slipping to fourth overall.
Sunday's finale is a 20.4km time trial around Lausanne, which Horner's teammate and defending champion Cadel Evans surely will be targeting after his fifth-place finish Saturday.
The Australian won Romandie in 2006 after taking the final time trial in decisive fashion, leapfrogging over the two Spaniards who preceded him in the standings at the start of the day, Alberto Contador and Alejandro Valverde.
As for Horner, he said he would have more confidence in his own chances for the overall if he had a bigger lead going into the final time trial. His pick for the final overall? Dekker.
"If I had to pick someone now, I would pick Dekker. He looked incredibly strong to me today and he is an excellent time-trial specialist," Horner told reporters.
"If I led by 30 seconds, I would be much more confident. But it's not the case and I will be happy to finish in the top five."
—Agence France Presse contributed to this report
Tour de Romandie
Stage 4
1. Igor Anton Hernandez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 4:36:56
2. Thomas Dekker (Nl), Rabobank, same time
3. Christopher Horner (USA), Predictor-Lotto, s.t.
4. John Gadret (F), Ag2r, at 0:02
5. Cadel Evans (Aus), Predictor-Lotto, at 0:16
6. Sylvester Szmyd (Pol), Lampre-Fondital, s.t.
7. Andy Schleck (Lux), CSC, 00:16
8. Paolo Savoldelli (I), Astana, at 0:16
9. Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz), Astana, at 0:23
10. Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Sp), Caisse d’Epargne, at 0:26
Overall
1. Christopher Horner (USA), Predictor-Lotto, 17:00:17
2. Igor Anton Hernandez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 0:07
3. Thomas Dekker (Ned), Rabobank, at 0:09
4. Paolo Savoldelli (I), Astana, at 0:15
5. John Gadret (F), Ag2r, at 0:22
6. Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Sp), Caisse d’Epargne, at 0:28
7. Cadel Evans (Aus), Predictor-Lotto, at 0:29
8. Sylvester Szmyd (Pol), Lampre-Fondital, at 0:31
9. Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz), Astana, at 0:31
10. Andy Schleck (Lux), Team CSC, at 0:33
