The knives were out in what was expected to be an innocuous second stage of the 58th Tour de Romandie in Switzerland on Thursday With some serious mountain stages on the menu Friday and Saturday, Thursday’s 156km circuit stage into Romont served up a nice appetizer for what awaits this weekend. Stefano Garzelli (Vini Caldirola) confirmed he’s on rising form just in time for the Giro d’Italia with an impressive stage-win on the rising finish near the historic chateau at Romont. A winner two weeks ago at the Tour of Aragon in Spain, Garzelli led home a group of 27 riders fractured by Phonak’s punishing pace over the final 25km. Garzelli out-muscled compatriot Ivan Basso (CSC) and Austrian Gerrit Glomser (Saeco) to win the stage with enough gap to point his fingers to the heavens, thump his chest and sport a big smile for the finish-line photographers. Race leader Brad McGee (FDJeux.com) was under pressure from Phonak, who put six riders at the front of the group over the rolling finish on the final of five circuits into Romont. The prologue winner saw his hold on the leader’s jersey slipping away when defending champion Tyler Hamilton (Phonak) led the pace with 14km to go. McGee fought back and counted on the help of teammate Nicolas Fritsch to finish seventh and safely preserve the jersey going into Friday’s climbing stage. While Phonak forced the split, most of the major contenders covered the move. Team CSC put four of their riders in the final selection, including Basso and Paris-Nice winner Jorg Jaksche. Strong climbers Francisco Mancebo (Illes Balears), Fabian Jeker and Leonardo Piepoli (Saunier Duval) and Aitor Gonzalez (Fassa Bortolo) also made the final move to remain in contention going into Friday’s climbing stage. Hamilton proved once again he’s motivated to defend his title. Hamilton and Basso are now tied in second at 11 seconds back for the showdown this weekend. Team CSC’s Frank Schleck and Basso challenged the former CSC rider in the final bonus sprint, however, pipping Hamilton at the line to take the time bonuses. Early in the stage, American Tom Danielson (Fassa Bortolo) worked himself into a nine-man break that dominated the middle of the race. Danielson made it through the first split coming over the day’s main obstacle – a Category 2 climb at 104km -- but lost contact in the final charge to the line to finish 44th at 2:08 back. Danielson will be looking to shine this weekend and sits 41st overall at 2:29 back. The 58th Tour de Romandie continues Friday with the 145.7-kilometer third stage from Romont to Morgins. The stage hit the Category 1 climb at the 1,445-meter Col des Mosses midway through the stage. A quick descent drops to 397 meters for the final climb to the Cat. 1 summit finish at Morgins at 1,315 meters.