Wiggins wins Tour de Romandie

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Great Britain’s Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) became the first man for over 20 years to complete the Paris-Nice and Tour de Romandie double in Crans-Montana on Sunday afternoon, winning the final stage time trial and wrestling back the yellow jersey from Luis Leon Sanchez (Rabobank). The victory was made all the more sweet by the fact that Wiggins suffered mechanical problems just a couple of kilometres in, yet overcame that delay to secure the prize.

“It’s really nice to finish it off in a time trial on the last day for the boys,” Wiggins said at the finish. “All week they’ve been incredible – it doesn’t matter how strong you are as an individual, without those teammates this week I wouldn’t be in this position.

“What a team we’ve had here this week; you know you’re in a great team when you’ve got the world champion riding for you on the front.

“It was a true test of a GC rider; it had a bit of everything in it plus a mechanical for myself. I’m pleased with the way I handled that moment because a few years ago I might have thrown my toys out of the pram and chucked my bike down the ravine! It was a good test for the bigger races coming up and I’m delighted. I think [this year] is a result of the hard work I’ve put in this winter. I’ve really grafted at it and hopefully there’s more to come.”

Wiggins completed the 16.5km stage in a time of 28:56.6, almost a minute and a half faster than his Rabobank rival from Spain, who had taken over the yellow jersey the previous day after clinching his second consecutive stage win. Wiggins’ huge cushion over his rival was more than enough to overhaul Sanchez’s nine-second lead and in the end he was pushed hardest by 23-year-old American Andrew Talansky (Garmin-Barracuda).

The 2010 US U23 time trial champion produced a performance of enormous promise in finishing the stage just 0.7 seconds outside of Wiggins’ winning time, and it was good enough to move him up into second place in the overall GC. Talansky clearing has a liking for this race. He finished in ninth place overall last year and if his rapid progression continues he is sure to win some major races sooner rather than later. His showing was enough to comfortably retain the young riders jersey that he won last year.

Wiggins’ Sky teammate Richie Porte grabbed the final podium spot on the day and pushed himself into fourth place overall, one spot ahead of yet another Sky rider, Michael Rogers, and one behind Movistar’s Rui Costa. Having arrived in Switzerland with a very strong team and having dominated the opening two days through wins from Geraint Thomas and Wiggins, Sky ensured they finished the week on a high and laid a marker down for the forthcoming Grand Tours.

On this form Wiggins and his team cannot be ruled out of making a bold and prolonged bid for glory at the Tour de France, one that could yet last all the way down the Champs-Élysées on July 22.