MOUDON, Switzerland: Germany’s Marcel Kittel claimed the weather-curtailed first stage of the Tour de Romandie in a sprint finish on Wednesday.
The start was scheduled for La Chaux-de-Fonds but with the threat of ice and hail the riders started from Mathon, reducing the circuit to 100 kilometers.
Kittel (Etixx) saw off Italy’s Niccolo Bonifazio by half a wheel length with Swiss rider Michael Albasini in third.
Spaniard Ion Izagirre retained the lead in the overall standings after his surprise success in Tuesday’s prologue.
Thursday’s second stage is a 173.9km ride from Moudon to the 1350m altitude finish at Morgins.
Sutton quits British Cycling
Shane Sutton resigned as technical director of British Cycling on Wednesday following allegations he had used sexist and discriminatory language toward team riders.
“I believe it is in the best interests of British Cycling for me to step down from my position as technical director,” the 58-year-old Australian said in a statement issued by the national governing body.
Sutton’s decision came just 100 days before the start of the Olympics in Rio, with cycling tipped to again be one of Britain’s most successful sports at a Games.
He was suspended by British Cycling late on Tuesday after it was alleged he had called Paralympic cyclists “gimps.”
That announcement came soon after British Cycling launched an independent review into claims he had been sexist in his treatment of sprinter Jess Varnish.
“It is absolutely crucial that, as our athletes begin their final preparations for Rio, they are able to do so free of distraction,” said Sutton in his resignation statement.
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