ZINAL (Switzerland), May 4: Andreas Kloeden strengthened his Tour of Romandie lead on Saturday by finishing sixth in the fourth and penultimate stage behind winner Francesco De Bonis of Italy.

There was more good news for German Kloeden when he discovered his Astana team were likely to be competing in the Giro d’Italia which begins on May 10.

Thomas Dekker, the 2007 Romandie winner, was Kloeden’s main rival before the mountainous 112-km stage from Sion to Zinal but the Dutchman gave up at the start of the last of Saturday’s three climbs.

Kloeden began the day with a five-second advantage over Dekker and now has a 35-second lead over Czech Roman Kreuziger, with Italian Marco Pinotti a further eight seconds adrift in third.

Gerolsteiner rider De Bonis led the stage from start to finish to win by three seconds from Frenchman John Gadret.

Spain’s Manuel Beltran was third, a further two seconds behind.

But the talk of the peloton was the news about Astana’s possible inclusion in the Giro.

An Astana spokesman said the team would start although race director Angelo Zomegnan said their participation was “50-50”, adding an official announcement would be made on Sunday evening.

“It’s brilliant news and of course I’d volunteer to take part if it is confirmed,” said Kloeden.

Kloeden is now a big favourite to win the Tour of Romandie as Sunday’s 154-km final stage between Le Bouveret and Lausanne appears relatively easy, even though the riders need to negotiate a big hill near the start.—Reuters