Chris Froome confirms 2013 Tour de Romandie victory as Tony Martin wins final ITT
Froome succeeds Wiggins as Romandie champion, calls victory "a good omen" for hopes of doing likewise at the Tour
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
Chris Froome (Sky) collected the overall victory at the Tour de Romandie on Sunday after Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) won the final time trial in Geneva.
Martin, the reigning world time trial champion, continued his dominance in races against the clock, covering the 18.7km course in 21:07. Adriano Malori (Lampre-Merida) finished 16 seconds slower to take second with race leader Froome third at 34 seconds.
“I came to Tour de Romandie to try to make a good result in the GC, but maybe it was a bit of a mistake to attack yesterday in the mountain stage,” Martin said. “I lost my chance to be in the top 10, so I focused on today’s TT.
“I knew the parcour was perfect for me today. The course was not complicated. It was totally flat, so I was able to give 100 percent right from the start because there was no mountain or any technical parts that can make a big difference. So you have to keep a steady, good speed from the beginning and I did that. I am happy with my win today.”
Froome, who began the stage with a comfortable 47-second advantage over second-placed Simon Spilak (Katusha), extended his lead in the finale. Spilak rode to fifth on the day at 41 seconds to confirm his runner-up GC finish, 54 seconds down on Froome, with Rui Da Costa (Movistar) third.
Froome’s victory was the second consecutive win in the Swiss WorldTour event following the success of Bradley Wiggins in 2012. It also was the first time Team Sky has led a stage race from start to finish.
“It has been a really good week for us,” said Froome. “I am really happy with my condition now in the build-up to the Tour de France. Every race I do now is a good test for me, to see exactly where my condition is and what I need to work on.
“It is definitely a good omen, but the Tour is still two months away and I need to do a lot of hard training before then.”