Unpack. That is what Thibau Nys (21) did in Switzerland. Winning at Les Marécottes and immediately his first World Tour victory. He did so from the early breakaway and defeated Luke Plapp and Andrea Vendrame on the line. “I can’t describe how important this is. I worked so hard for this. Winning here is something I will remember for the rest of my life.”
Today the peloton had its first mountain stage in the Tour de Romandie. 171 kilometers between Fribourg and Les Marécottes. Along the way, the Col des Mosses (12.8km at 4.8%) and Les Marécottes (7.5km at 7.5%) awaited. The latter was also the final climb and so Jai Hindley and Juan Ayuso were mainly looked to for the victory.
It took quite a while before a real leading group was formed. Twenty kilometers into the ride it finally happened. Thibau Nys (Lidl-Trek) quickly took the lead and was joined by six other riders. Among them a second Belgian, Xandro Meurisse (Alpecin), the Spaniards German Nikias Arndt (Bahrain-Victorious).
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The escapees’ lead quickly increased to 5’30”, but it dropped back to 4’20” halfway through the race. The ride gave birth to a mouse until the foot of the Col des Mosses, from then on it was expected that the race would open up. On the Mosses, the favorites kept a low profile and headed for the final climb towards Les Marécottes. The escapees started the final climb with a lead of 3 minutes. But the peloton increased the pace and in no time the gap on the escapees dropped to 2 minutes.
But the platoon arrived too late. So the early flight headed to the finish. And Thibau Nys was the fastest there. He won the second stage in line ahead of Andrea Vendrame and Luke Plapp. The little Cannibal also immediately becomes leader in Romandy. With Ilan Van Wilder who finished ninth today, there is also another Belgian in the top 10 of the rankings. Van Wilder occupies fourth place.
Thibau Nys: “I was so disappointed that I couldn’t show my good legs yesterday. says Nys. “So we made a plan to join the flight today. I slid along perfectly, with some strong riders. The important thing was to save as much energy as possible afterwards. (laughs) But I honestly didn’t know what to expect because it was the first time in my career that I was on an early flight. A big thank you to the support car for guiding and guiding me through that last climb and those last bends. I really felt great on that final climb.”
I will remember this victory for the rest of my life.
Thibau Nys, Lidl-Trek
“I can’t describe how important this is. My first victory in the World Tour. To some this may seem like a normal victory, but I worked so hard for this. It was a goal this season to ride the Tour de Romandie with good form. But then win here. I will remember this for the rest of my life.”
Nys has the leader’s jersey, but is not thinking about the overall victory. “My time trial is not good enough for that. But I’m definitely going to enjoy it tonight and tomorrow.”
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5:15 PM
Thibau Nys wins the second stage in the Tour de Romandie!
Nys is the fastest in the group of escapees and immediately takes the leader’s jersey!
17:04
1 KM TO GO: FINAL KILOMETER
Thibau Nys is still with the escapees. Plapp and Vendrame are also still with him.
17:02
ANOTHER 2 KM: Plapp and Lipowitz hunt for escapees
Lucas Plapp (Jayco) and Florian Lipowitz (BORA) chase the trio at the front. It looks like they will be fighting for the overall victory with 5 at the front.
5:00 PM
ANOTHER 2 KM: Meurisse again with the leading duo
Meurisse has once again joined the leading duo Nys-Vendrame. Will the trio sing it out until the end?
16:58
ANOTHER 3 KM: Meurisse loses
Xandro Meurisse has to take over the role at the front. This leaves two riders left, Nys and Vendrame.
4:55 PM
ANOTHER 4 KM: Trio of escapees
Azparren and Adrià have to take over the role at the front and have now been picked up by the peloton. This leaves a trio at the front with a 1’07” lead over the peloton.
16:49
6 KM TO GO: Lead is still 1’30”
It seems that the escapees are a bird for the cat. With 6 kilometers to go, they have a lead of only 1’30”.
16:44
ANOTHER 7 KM: The flight begins the final climb
The flight starts with the final climb to Les Marécottes. The peloton increases the pace. The escapees’ lead is shrinking noticeably.
16:44
ANOTHER 8 KM: Vendrame wins intermediate sprint in Vernayaz
Once again the full spoils for Vendrame in the intermediate sprint. The Italian now also takes the second intermediate sprint of the day and is gradually closing in on his teammate Godon.
16:41
STILL 10 KM: Flight still 3 minutes
Does the peloton seem worth the effort? The flight still has a 3′ lead.
16:28
ANOTHER 21 KM: Another 3 minutes for the escapees
The lead for the escapees increases again to 3′. Silence before the storm? Or will the escapees hold out until the end?
There is Groupama-FDJ. The French formation does the leading work thanks to their leaders Lenny Martinez and David Gaudu. What can top talent Martinez do today in this stage? Or will they still draw the Gaudu card?
15:54
ANOTHER 55 KM: Mountain sprint won by Vendrame
Andrea Vendrame takes full advantage on the Col des Mosses. Roger Adrià comes second and takes 6 points, Thibau Nys 4.
15:45
ANOTHER 59 KM: Two riders release
Nikias Arndt and Sean Flynn have to fill the role.
15:37
ANOTHER 63 KM: Halfway to Les Marcottes
Halfway through the first climb the lead is still 3’20”. No attacks yet.
