Vinokourov powers to victory

An attentive and crafty Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) won stage three at the Tour de Romandie from a three-man break, foiling the teams of the sprinters on the one day which had been shaping up for a bunch gallop.

Overnight race leader Pavel Brutt (Katusha) remains atop the general classification standings, although for the second straight stage his lead has been reduced.

Three kilometres from the finish in Neuchatel Tony Martin (HTC-Highroad) launched a blistering attack and only Vinokourov and Mikael Cherel (AG2R La Mondiale) were able to respond.

The Astana team captain outkicked Cherel and Martin for his second win of the season as the trio fended off the charging peloton by the slenderest of margins. Ben Swift (Sky) led in a 77-rider field for fourth place, credited with the same finishing time as Vinokourov.

"In the final kilometres I was with [teammate Paolo] Tiralongo and I wanted to attack but I thought it was too early with 3km to the finish," said Vinokourov. "But when I saw Tony Martin go, I knew I could not let him [escape] alone, because I know he could have gone through [to the finish].

"When I saw that the bunch wasn't catching us to 500 metres, I realized that it could work. I've always been a rider who attacks, since the beginning of my career I have always attacked, but now with experience, I feel the race and I can recognize the right moment to go."

Runner-up Cherel raised his arm in protest at the finish line as he felt Vinokourov impeded his efforts in the kick to the line, but the race officials let the results stand.

"Initially I was rather disappointed with the decision of the commissaires," said Cherel, who for the second straight stage came up short in his bid for a win. "In a season there are not many opportunities [for victories]. The commissaires decided, and I respect their decision. The Giro begins soon and now I know I am able to get a stage win in this kind of racing."

Vinokourov was pleased with the commissaires' decision as he felt he'd conducted a fair sprint. "I positioned myself near the fence on the left side of the road from the last 200 metres and I made my sprint properly, nothing prevented him to position himself at the right," said Vinokourov. "It is unfortunate for him, but it’s not debatable."

Race leader Pavel Brutt (Katusha) finished in 21st and remains atop general classification for another day. The Russian's advantage over the second-placed rider was reduced by six seconds, however. The stage winner's time bonus for Vinokourov moved the Astana rider from fourth into second place, 32 seconds back, while Damiano Cunego drops one spot to third overall at 38 seconds.

A day for the sprinters?

The 165.7km stage from Thierrens to Neuchatel was dominated by a four-rider break comprised of Ignatas Konovalovas (Movistar), Chris Anker Sörensen (Saxo Bank Sungard), Aliaksandr Kuchynski (Katusha) and Jerome Cousin (Europcar).

The break had reached a maximum advantage of five minutes, but imploded on the day's final climb, a category two ascent 18.2km from the finish, as Sörensen attacked and crested the summit alone.

With 10km remaining on the flat run-in to the finish line Sörensen led Konovalovas by 14 seconds and the peloton by 28 seconds. Konovalovas was soon caught, and Sörensen, too, was brought back into a peloton reduced in size by the pair of climbs in the final 40km.

Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil-DCM) launched an attack with 7km to go but his move was neutralised two kilometres later.

The teams of the sprinters were gearing up for a bunch finish in Neuchatel, only to have Tony Martin, Alexandre Vinokourov and Mikael Cherel slip off the front of the peloton in the final kilometres to contest the win amongst themselves.

Race of truth on tap

The peloton faces a 20.1km individual time trial tomorrow in the Tour de Romandie's penultimate stage. Less than one minute separates the top 17 riders on general classification and a shake-up of the overall standings is likely.

Vinokourov is pleased that he'll start after all of his GC rivals, particularly Cadel Evans (BMC).

"Last night, I was annoyed to see that I was starting before Evans in the time trial so I'm happy because now I will leave behind him," said Vinokourov. "I will be informed of his time, it can change everything.

"I don't think the race leader Pavel Brutt will keep his jersey after a time trial of 20km, 32 seconds is not enough. I think he has lost strength after the first two stages of the race, but you never know. I cross my fingers and I will give the maximum tomorrow."