CHAMPERY: Switze­rland’s Michael Albasini won the first stage of the Tour de Romandie on Wednesday as prologue winner Fabio Felline of Italy maintained his overall lead.

The 36-year-old Albasini sprinted through rain and light fog on a mountain road in Champery after a 168-kilometre ride.

Diego Ulissi of Italy was second and Jesus Herrada of Spain was third in the same time as Albasini.

Two-time Romandie winner Chris Froome of Britain was fifth and remains 29 seconds off the pace after finishing 78th in Tuesday’s opening 4.8km prologue.

Felline leads Max Schachmann of Germany by eight seconds overall. Herrada is in third place.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2017