MONTREUX, Switzerland (AP) - Michael Albasini of Switzerland won a second straight sprint finish to lead the Tour of Romandie overall on Thursday.
Albasini took more than four hours to finish the 166.5-kilometer (103.5-mile) third stage in rain-swept Montreux.
The Orica-Green Edge rider edged Tony Hurel of France and third-place Giacomo Nizzolo of Italy, who had the same time.
Albasini says “winning two stages in a row is just fantastic. It’s been a really good day for us.”
A 10-second time bonus lifted Albasini above Michal Kwiatkowski of Poland into a five-second lead overall.
Chris Froome of Britain placed 10th and was eighth overall, trailing Albasini by 19 seconds.
Froome, the defending champion and 2013 Tour de France winner, is favored on Friday’s 180-kilometer (112-mile) stage in the mountains.
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