Dylan Teuns edges out Rohan Dennis on stage 1 of the Tour of Romandie

On the final climb to Romont, the 31-year-old Australian attacked, but in the last few metres Dylan Teuns passed him. Dennis took over the leader's jersey from Ethan Hayter, who crashed with 15 km to go

Five riders broke away after the start, local rider Valère Thiébaud (Swiss Cycling) joined forces with Antoine Debons (Swiss Cycling), Julius Johansen (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux), Thomas Champion (Cofidis) and Tim Naberman (DSM), who established an advantage of more than three minutes over the main bunch. 

The pace went up in the run-up to the hilly final and the two remaining riders were caught with thirty kilometres to go. In the descent towards the climb of the Massonnens there was a big crash with 15 km to go.

Steven Kruijswijk, Sergio Higuita, Rigoberto Uran and race leader Dylan Tuens wre involved and lost valuable time for the general classification. Race leader Hayter, who had spent most of the day sheltered behind the bunch, ended up lying in the grass at the side of the road. The Brit slowly rose to his feet, but by the time he remounted his bike.

Dennis then chose to attack on the steep finish and initially rode alone. However, in the last hundred metres, the Australian fell silent and Teuns crossed the line first.

Dennis, who also finished second in Tuesday's prologue time trial, took a six-second time bonus on the line and moved into the leader's jersey previously held by Ethan Hayter (Ineos Grenadiers), who crashed with 14km to go. 

"I gave everything, but I was empty in the last hundred metres", the new classification leader Rohan Dennis said. "Initially, I followed Brandon McNulty's tempo acceleration. Even though it hurt, I felt I could go faster. I hoped to create a gap and ensure I was at least on the podium. A few metres less and I would have won, but I am happy with the result. The team did a great job today."

VIDEO: 2022 Tour de Romandie Stage 1 Higlights

2022 Tour de Romandie Stage 1 Top 10

1. Dylan Teuns (Bel) Bahrain-Victorious, in 4-23-58
2. Rohan Dennis (Aus) Jumbo-Visma, s.t.
3. Marc Hirschi (Swi) UAE Team Emirates, at 2s
4. Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 2s
5. Quinten Hermans (Bel) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux, at 2s
6. Ben O'Connor (Aus) AG2R Citrëon, at 4s
7. Damiano Caruso (Ita) Bahrain-Victorious
8. Juan Ayuso (Esp) UAE Team Emirates
9. Stess Cras (Bel) Lotto-Soudal
10. Mauro Schmid (Swi) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl, all at s.t.

2022 Tour de Romandie GC after Stage 1

1. Rohan Dennis (Aus) Jumbo-Visma, in 4-29-48
2. Felix Grosßchartner (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 16s
3. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers, s.t.
4. Dylan Teuns (Bel) Bahrain-Victorious, at 18s
5. Mauro Schmid (Swi) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl, at 20s
6. Juan Ayuso (Esp) UAE Team Emirates, at 20s
7. Mikkel Honoré (Den) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl, at 20s
8. Patrick Bevin (NZl) Israel-Premier Tech, at 22s
9. Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 23s
10. Brandon McNulty (USA) UAE Team Emirates at 23s