Road: Rast Leads Tour of Romandie

Trek-sponsored Astana rider Gregory Rast is the new leader of the Tour de Romandie (Switzerland), racing his Trek Madone into the general classification lead after finishing third in today's Stage 1 race from Montreux to Fribourg. Together with Serrano and Lars Ytting Bak, Rast was one of three riders who dominated the stage. Attacking after just 22 kilometers, the trio managed to stay of the front of the peloton until the stage end, which was shortened because of snow fall on the Jaunpass. With Haimar Zubeldia (5th), Michael Schär (10th) and Assan Bazayev (14th), three other Astana Cycling Team riders finished in the top 15.

Three-time Swiss road champion Gregory Rast was extremely pleased to take the yellow jersey in his own country. “It was hard. In the end the peloton came so close. I had to work hard to stay in the front as I knew that I could take over the leader’s jersey from Prologue winner Frantisek Rabon. Those efforts cost me the stage win, but I am happy with this jersey. It will be difficult to keep it, but you never know. Two years ago I won the Tour of Luxemburg, which is a hard race as well. However, the mountains here are much harder, plus there is the team time trial and the differences in the top of the GC are small. Anyway, I will try to keep this jersey as long as possible. For me this is good compensation for my lost classics season. I was sprinting for a podium place in the Tour of Flanders when I crashed, which jeopardized my Paris-Roubaix as well.”