Albasini, who missed out on the yellow jersey by just 63 hundredths of a second on Tuesday in the team time-trial, edged out Jarlinson Pantano of Colombia and in-form Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe, who was second in both the Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Flèche-Wallonne in the past week.
Welsh rider Thomas finished over four minutes behind the winner at the end of the hilly stage.
Albasini's team-mate Ivan Santaromita is second, ten seconds adrift, while two-time defending champion Chris Froome of Britain is third, also trailing by ten seconds.
Thursday's third stage is a hilly 172.5-kilometre ride from Moutier and Porrentruy, including the category two Col de la Croix.
CYCLING
Switzerland’s Albasini takes Romandie lead
Welsh rider Geraint Thomas surrendered his Tour de Romandie cycling race overall lead to Swiss rival Michael Albasini who won Wednesday's second stage, the 168.1-kilometre ride from Apples to St-Imier and took the yellow jersey.
Published: 29 April 2015 21:10 CEST
Albisini crosses the finish line in first place. Photo: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP
CYCLING
Swiss rider dies after fall into ravine on Tour of Switzerland
Swiss rider Gino Maeder has died from the injuries he sustained when he plunged into a ravine during a stage of the Tour of Switzerland, his team Bahrain-Victorious said on Friday.
Published: 16 June 2023 12:54 CEST
Maeder, 26, fell during a high-speed descent on the fifth stage between Fiesch and La Punt on Thursday, after an exhausting day marked by three ascents over 2,000 metres altitude.
He had been found “lifeless in the water” of a ravine below the road, “immediately resuscitated then transported to the hospital in Chur by air”, organisers said.
But the next day, “Gino lost his battle to recover from the serious injuries he sustained,” Bahrain-Victorious said in a statement.
“It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we must announce the passing of Gino Mäder,” his team wrote in a statement.
“On Friday June 16th, following a very serious fall during the fifth stage of the Tour de Suisse, Gino lost his fight to recover from the serious injuries he had suffered. Our entire team is devastated by this tragic accident, and our thoughts and prayers are with Gino’s family and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time.”
“Despite the best efforts of the phenomenal staff at Chur hospital, Gino couldn’t make it through this, his final and biggest challenge, and at 11:30am we said goodbye to one of the shining lights of our team,” the team said in a statement.
🙏🏻 Gino, thank you for the light, the joy, and the laughs you brought us all, we will miss you as a rider and as a person.
❤️ Today and every day, we ride for you, Gino.
🔗 https://t.co/CSx5BsWfRz pic.twitter.com/caBmfmWwyg
— Team Bahrain Victorious (@BHRVictorious) June 16, 2023
Maeder had enjoyed a strong start to the season, finishing fifth in the Paris-Nice race.
American rider Magnus Sheffield also fell on the same descent from Albula, during the most difficult stage of the race with multiple climbs. The Ineos-Grenadiers rider was hospitalised with “bruises and concussion,” organisers said.
On Thursday, world champion Remco Evenepoel criticised the decision to compete on such a dangerous road.
“While a summit finish would have been perfectly possible, it wasn’t a good decision to let us finish down this dangerous descent,” the Belgian wrote on Twitter.
“As riders, we should also think about the risks we take going down a mountain.”
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