Team Astana’s Gregory Rast is the new leader in the Tour de Romandie taking place in Switzerland. Rast finished third in the first stage, won by Spaniard Ricardo Serrano (Fuji). Together with Serrano and Lars Ytting Bak (Saxo Bank), Rast was one of the three riders that dominated the stage with the finish in Fribourg. They attacked after 22 kilometers and managed to stay in the front until the end.

The stage was shortened because of snow fall on the Jaunpass.

Three-time Swiss road champion Gregory Rast was extremely pleased with taking 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."

Rast added that, "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."