Road: Iglinskiy Wins Tour de Romandie Stage

Kazakh national champion Maxim Iglinskiy won today’s Tour de Romandie Stage One, out sprinting Michael Albasini of Liquigas and Markus Zberg of Gerolsteiner aboard his team issue Trek Madone. The 27-year old Astana rider was propelled to the line by his four teammates (Andreas Klöden, Steve Morabito, Vladimir Gusev and Thomas Frei), who set a furious pace to position Iglinskiy perfectly for the win. After the stage, team director Alain Gallopin, noted that the team’s plan for the day worked to perfection.  

“This morning we decided to do everything for Max”, explained Alain Gallopin. “In the last weeks Max was constantly improving. On the last climb, I told our best rider today, Andreas Klöden, not to cooperate any more in the leading group because Max was coming closer with a group that included three other Astana Cycling Team riders. When the two groups came together, I felt confident. I explained to Max that he had to take the last corner as the first rider, which he did perfectly. I am so glad for our riders and Kazakh sponsors.”

Passing the finish line Maxim Iglinskiy proudly pointed to his Kazakh national jersey. "I am so happy with the confidence that the team gave me today. My personal ambitions for the next days are the team ambitions. In theory Andreas Klöden is our leader. We will know more after the time trial."

Iglinskiy's past accomplishments include stage wins in the Dauphiné Libéré and the Tour of Germany. Today's win is his first victory of the season and his 6th as a professional rider.  He now sits second in the general classification, one second behind race-leader Michael Albasini. The five-stage Tour of Romandie (plus Prologue) concludes May 4^th in Lausanne, Switzerland.