Maikel Zijlaard stunts with first World Tour victory in Tour de Romandie prologue | Sports Other

Zijlaard clocked a time of 2.55.43 on the 2.28 kilometer long course through Payerne. The Tudor Pro Cycling Team rider thus kept big names behind him. Ethan Hayter, Juan Ayuso, Jan Tratnik and Magnus Sheffield, among others, chipped away at the Dutchman’s time.

Cameron Scott surprisingly came second, conceding only nine tenths. Julian Alaphilippe was another second slower and completed the podium. Tim van Dijke was the second Dutchman in the top ten in sixth place. Adam Yates, who won the Tour de Romandie last year, finished only 47th.

It is Zijlaard’s biggest victory of his career so far. The born Rotterdammer previously won the Olympia’s Tour, the Dorpenomloop Rucphen and two stages in a Czech stage race. None of these victories were a World Tour race.

“It is crazy“I can’t believe it,” said Zijlaard. “I rode early and the next two hours of waiting were the worst of my life because of the stress. “To get my first win here, for a Swiss team in Switzerland, is a bit of a dream. I knew I could do this. I came here with the prologue as my goal. It’s hard to imagine, but now it’s the reality.”

Thanks to his victory, Zijlaard is also the leader in the general classification. The Tour de Romandie continues on Wednesday with a hill stage of 165.7 kilometers. The stage race lasts until Sunday.