Chris Froome finishes fifth on stage one of the Tour de Romandie

ByPA Sport

Published 26/04/2017 at 18:02 GMT

Britain's Chris Froome came in fifth as Orica-Scott rider Michael Albasini took a sprint finish in heavy rain on stage one of the Tour de Romandie from Aigle to Champery.

Team Sky's Chris Froome finished fifth in the first stage of the Tour de Romandie

Image credit: PA Sport

Swiss Albasini crossed ahead of Team UAE Emirates' Diego Ulissi and Movistar's Jesus Herrada at the top of a category one climb at the end of the 172-kilometre course.

Prologue winner Fabio Felline retained the leaders' yellow jersey, but Britain's Alex Dowsett, who had been second heading into the stage, fell down the classifications.

The Movistar rider was dropped by the breakaway on the final climb as the conditions worsened.

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Thursday's stage two runs over 161km to Bulle when Italian Felline will defend an eight-second advantage over Maximilian Schachmann, the German Quick-Step Floors rider, and Spaniard Herrada.

Albasini is ninth, some 14 seconds adrift, in the sprinters' green jersey while Britain's Simon Yates is the leading climber for Orica-Scott at 18 seconds off the pace.

Froome remains some 29 seconds adrift, having been one of several general classification contenders to play it safe during Tuesday's time trial which also saw wet conditions on what was a slippery 4.8km circuit.

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