Tour de Romandie Photos Apr 26 - May 1

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Jonathan Castroviejo (Euskaltel-Euskadi) whizzing around one of many tight corners. The toughest section of the course was removed just before the start shortening the prologue from 3.5 to 2.9 km.	When was the last time an Euskaltel-Euskadi rider won a prologue? Jonathan Castroviejo wins the twisty (shortened) 2.9 km course in 3:40.42	Less than half a second back, was Taylor Phinney (BMC) in the flashy U.S./BMC TT champion's kit
HTC-Highroad's Leigh Howard of Australia was third just over a second back. He's only 21 years-old so the average age of today's top 3 is less than 22 years. (Castroviejo is 24 and Phinney is just 20)	The surprise prologue winner, Jonathan Castroviejo (Euskaltel-Euskadi)	The 24 year-old from Getxo in the Basque Country automatically gets the first Yellow Jersey to go along with his biggest win to date
Jonathan Castroviejo (Euskaltel-Euskadi) is enjoying his time in Yellow while it lasts. Tomorrow is the Queen Stage and a new race leader is expected.

Stage 1:   Martigny → Leysin, 173 km  Full Results and Report

The first half of stage 1 should have been the easiest terrain and weather-wise, but not for Daniele Bennati (Leopard-Trek). He's out of the race (and Giro d'Italia) after breaking his collarbone.	Vineyards on the shores of Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) as the peloton heads inland for some classic Romandie terrain	Pavel Brutt (KAT) leading the four man break which included Kvachuk (LAM), Samoilau (MOV) and Bobridge (GRM). This strong group escaped before the live coverage started and maintained a lead of over four minutes going into the finishing climb (6 km, 4.4%).
BMC (Cadel Evans) were one of the few teams attempting to close the gap	Pavel Brutt (Katusha) soloed the final climb (6 km. 4.4%) to the Leysin ski resort	Pavel Brutt looking good. You can't let this guy get too far up the road.
Pavel Brutt (Katusha) crossed the line almost two minutes ahead of the GC contenders	Your stage 1 winner, Pavel Brutt (Katusha). A career dotted with solo wins.	With a healthy race lead, it will be hard to get the Yellow Jersey off the shoulders of Pavel Brutt (Katusha) the rest of the week

Stage 2:   Romont → Romont, 172 km  Full Results and Report

Last year's Tour de Romandie overall winner Simon Spilak and Lampre teammate Damiano Cunego in Romont, the start and finish host for today's stage 2 cloverleaf route.	Heading out on the narrow (and today wet) roads for a tough stage around Romont	Lots of up and down racing through the lush countryside around Romont
With a two minute race lead, the Yellow Jersey, Pavel Brutt (Katusha), was put under pressure today by those looking to make up time before the stage 4 ITT	Lampre's Damiano Cunego timed his move perfectly, winning the uphill finish in Romont (last km, 7.5% avg) by 2s ahead of BMC's Cadel Evans and Astana's Alexandre Vinokourov	Other than some bad news in the media last week, 2011 is going much better for Damiano Cunego; three nice wins so far versus nothing in 2010
Damiano Cunego caps off an exciting finish to stage 2	This could be a picture of a rider who has lost his Yellow Jersey. Instead, Pavel Brutt (Katusha) had his generous race lead cut down to 40s. He's showing the effects of chasing the other GC contenders after getting dropped on the cat 1 climb near the finish.	Damiano Cunego (Lampre) was still in victory salute mode when he hit the podium
A classy winner's prize worthy of a tough stage

Stage 3:  Aubonne → Signal-de-Bougy, 20 km TT  Full Results and Report

Last break succeeds in Neuchâtel. The only thing AG2R's Mikaël Cherel should be upset about at the finish is that he sat on Astana's Alexander Vinokourov's wheel for too long and then tried to pass him in the narrow gap with the barriers	Tony Martin initiated the late break with 3 km to go and placed third followed by the peloton	Vino schools the field in Neuchatel and collects 10s bonus to move up to 2nd overall before the decisive ITT on Saturday
Pavel Brutt (Katusha) will take a 32s lead over Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) and 42s over Cadel Evans (BMC) into the penultimate stage. He's not known as a time-trialist so we'll see what happens on the lumpy, somewhat technical 20.5 km ITT

Stage 4:  Aubonne → Signal-de-Bougy, 20.5 km ITT  Full Results and Report

Garmin's Dave Zabriskie benefited from an early start to post the best time before the wind kicked up on the 20.5 km course. He said post race that up and down TT courses suite him.	Another perspective of Dave Z's winning form from the the other side of the field	Saxo-Bank's Richie Porte looking aero as he too benefited from an early start. He was 2nd (+0:02). It was announced yesterday that he will ride the Giro d'Italia.
BMC's Cadel Evans posted the best time among the GC contenders in adverse conditions. He was 8th (+0:45) and is now the race leader by 18s heading into the final stage.	Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) blew a great opportunity today. He was the best place GC man going into today's stage, but managed just 22nd (+ 01:14).	Wind and rain didn't help the man in Yellow, not known for his time-trialing even on a good day weather-wise. Pavel Brutt (Katusha) was 84th (+ 2:25) and slids down the leaderboard to 8th.
Garmin's Dave Zabriskie adds another time-trial win to his palmares	Cadel Evans slipping into Yellow...	... before the final and easiest stage of this year's race

Stage 5:  Champagne → Genève, 165 km  Full Results and Report

Stage 5 was expected to be the easiest stage and race leader Cadel Evans (BMC) finished with the pack to wrap up his overall win	Ben Swift (Sky) wins the sprint finish in Geneva ahead of 2nd Davide Vigano (Leopard Trek) and 3rd Oscar Freire Gomez (Rabobank)
Your stage 5 winner, Ben Swift (Sky)	Five years after winning his first, Cadel Evans wraps up the 2011 Tour de Romandie	Your 2011 Tour de Romandie podium: 2nd Tony Martin (HTC-Highroad) + 0:18, 1st Cadel Evans (BMC), 3rd Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) + 0:19