The Luxembourger is eighth with one stage left, a 17.9km-long individual time trial in Lausanne.
The Tour de Romandie riders faced a 163.5km stage on Saturday, packed with four classified climbs, including Leysin, which was featuring at the finish and was making its return on the course for the first time in 11 years. Before that, the peloton took on Jaunpass, Saanenmöser and Col du Pillon, and it was on the latter that several riders accelerated from the bunch and opened a one-minute gap.
A single file peloton arrived at the foot of Leysin, a 5.4km-long climb averaging 6.5%, where Richie Porte (BMC) attacked and bridged to the leaders, before making another surge which saw only Simon Yates (Orica-Scott) respond. The two powered ahead and went on to fight for victory at the top of the first-category ascent, where the Brit prevailed, taking both the win and the leader's jersey.
Bob Jungels paced himself and climbed with the main chasing group on the day's final climb once the attacks started to come in, crossing the line less than a minute behind the winner, in 13th place. The 24-year-old Luxembourg Champion, who will head out to the Giro d'Italia from Switzerland, now lies eighth in the general classification, 52 seconds adrift, with another Quick-Step Floors rider, David De La Cruz, also well-placed, in 12th position.
Neo-pro Maximilian Schachmann conceded the white jersey on the hard climb to Leysin, but the German is within touching distance of new leader Pierre Latour (AG2R) and will have a chance of reclaiming it on Sunday, when the 71st edition of the Tour de Romandie will come to a conclusion with a 17.9km-long individual time trial in Lausanne, on a course that will include a 7km climb.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele
