Stage win and leader's jersey for Thibau Nys on Tour de Romandie Stage 2

Thibau Nys' FIRST World Tour win! The Lidl-Trek rider achieves the BIGGEST win of his career in Stage 2 of the Tour de Romandie.

The 21-year-old Belgian was part of a six-rider escape early on the 171km second stage from Fribourg to the Marecottes ski resort.

Only Nys and Andrea Vendrame were still clear when they were caught and passed by Australia's Luke Plapp in the last kilometre. But Nys sprinted past for his first World Tour victory. Italian Vendramme was second.

"I wanted this victory so badly, I've worked so hard for it, I'll remember it for the rest of my life", said Nys, a former junior world cyclo-cross champion. His father Sven Nys won two full world titles in the discipline.

The pack, containing the race heavyweights, finished 16 seconds back.

Thibau said afterwards, "I was so disappointed yesterday that I couldn’t show my good legs. We made a plan to go in the break if it was a strong one. I think I set up the break in the perfect moment. It was a group of pretty strong guys, I just tried to save as much energy as possible but I didn’t really know what to expect to be honest because it was the first time I’m in the breakaway in my career.

“Also I didn’t really know the last climb or the corners, so I must say a massive thanks to the Team, they did a hell of a job to guide me in the last kilometers. I was surprised when Michi [Schär, Sports Director] told me there was a hairpin 200m to go, I almost missed it but it was just in time for me to make my sprint.

“It gets difficult if you think about it [that it’s your race to lose], that’s the moment when it can slip out of your hands. I tried to stay cool and not risk anything, then do everything at the right moment.

“I cannot describe this. For some people it might just look like a normal victory, but I wanted it so bad and I worked so hard for it. It was the first big goal of the season to be in good shape here. That’s one thing, and then to win it’s something else. I will remember this for the rest of my life.

“My TT is not good enough at the moment to keep the jersey, but I will enjoy my day in Yellow tomorrow and I will definitely sleep better than yesterday after today. I started my season three days ago and to be sitting here right now is better than I could ever dream of.”

VIDEO: Tour of Romandie Stage 2 Highlights

Tour of Romandie Stage 2 Top 10

1  NYS Thibau Lidl - Trek 4:02:44
2  VENDRAME Andrea Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team 0:00
3  PLAPP Luke Team Jayco AlUla 0:04
4  LIPOWITZ Florian BORA - hansgrohe 0:14
5  AYUSO Juan UAE Team Emirates 0:16
6  VLASOV Aleksandr BORA - hansgrohe 0:16
7  YATES Adam UAE Team Emirates 0:16
8  MARTIN Guillaume Cofidis 0:16
9  REINDERINK Pepijn Soudal Quick-Step 0:16
10  MARTINEZ Lenny Groupama - FDJ 0:16

Tour of Romandie GC after Stage 2

1  NYS Thibau Lidl - Trek 7:55:32
2  VENDRAME Andrea Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team 0:04
3  PLAPP Luke Team Jayco AlUla 0:22
4  MAS Enric Movistar Team 0:26
5  MARTINEZ Lenny Groupama - FDJ 0:27
6  AYUSO Juan UAE Team Emirates ,,
7  VLASOV Aleksandr BORA - hansgrohe 0:28
8  VOISARD Yannis Tudor Pro Cycling Team 0:29
9  YATES Adam UAE Team Emirates ,,
10  CARUSO Damiano Bahrain - Victorious ,,