With just one day remaining in the Tour de Romandie, Cadel Evans looks poised to repeat his 2006 victory in the race. The BMC Racing Team leader was best of the overall contenders in today’s 20 kilometre time trial, overcoming previous leader Pavel Brutt (Katusha) in jumping from fourth to first overall.
He coped well with tougher wind conditions near the end, placing eighth. Of the other contenders, Tony Martin was fifth, while Brutt was way back in 84th. Alexandre Vinokourov, who started the day second overall, was only able to finish 22nd in the test and dropped to third overall behind Evans and Martin.
Quickest of all the riders was Garmin-Cervélo’s Dave Zabriskie, who pipped the previous best time of Richie Porte (Saxo Bank SunGard) by two seconds. Liewe Westra (Vacansoleil-DCM) and Bradley Wiggins (Sky Procycling) were third and fourth, having also benefited by the calmer early conditions.
“I just started out pretty hard and finished strong,” a pleased Zabriskie said afterwards. “When we drove the course earlier I knew it was rolling and I like those type of courses. These rolling hills can really take it out of some people, but I like them.”
Evans was equally happy. “I'm very satisfied,” he said. “Two weeks ago, I didn't do the Classic races because of that training ride crash, so coming back here I didn't know where I was. But I worked hard with some good people around me and came back at a good level.”
He is a eighteen seconds clear of Martin heading into tomorrow’s final 164 kilometre state from Champagne to Geneva. It means he is well poised to net his second general classification success of the year, after Tirreno-Adriatico.
“This is a race that has always suited me,” he said. “I used to live here in Romandie, so I feel a bit at home. For BMC being a Swiss company, it's an important race.”
Teammate Taylor Phinney is one of those who will give him full backing tomorrow. The world under 23 time trial world champion had hoped to do a good ride in today’s test, but crashed less than a kilometre after starting the time trial.
“I think I got just a little too a too excited,” he said, revealing his ambition to do something after what has been an injury-affected start to his pro career. “I did some damage to my cleat and shoes and hip and back, but my knees, elbows and shoulder are fine. For a crash, it probably looks terrible, but I didn't get too hurt.”
Team manager John Lelangue will ensure that the squad is fully committed to help Evans seal his win. “I'm confident we have a full seven-man team who will be riding strong to defend the jersey,” he said, then explained that he believes the third-placed rider overall is a bigger threat. “We have to be careful because it's a short, difficult stage. We're more worried about Alexandre Vinokourov than Martin. He already proved he can make that kind of stage.”
However Vinokourov is playing down his chances. "I'm disappointed, that's obvious,” he said after the time trial. “I expected a lot from this time-trial to position me in the overall [classification].
“I think I’ve lost all hopes of victory in the second part of the chrono, ten kilometres from the finish. Thus, it’s like this, we can’t change anything. But we must admit that Cadel Evans is very strong, actually, and he also deserves to win this Tour de Romandie.”