Noemi Rüegg narrowly misses out on the podium in the first stage of the Tour de Romandie Féminin. The Zurich rider finished fourth in the stage won by Italian Elisa Balsamo with the finish in Lausanne.
The 23-year-old Rüegg, who had already impressed with 7th place at the Olympic Games in Paris, reached the finish after 134 kilometers in the stage that started in the commune of La Grande Béroche on Lake Neuchâtel at the same time as the winner.
Two world champions battled it out for victory at the front. Balsamo, who won the title three years ago, prevailed against the current holder of the rainbow jersey, Belgian Lotte Kopecky. The German Liane Lippert also finished ahead of Rüegg.
Demi Vollering finished the opening stage of the three-day event in 8th place. The Dutchwoman, last year's overall winner, is once again regarded as a prime contender for Tour victory.
The 2nd stage, which leads over 102 kilometers from Chippis to Vercorin on Saturday, could be decisive in the battle for overall victory. The final climb up to the Valais vacation resort is just under 10 kilometers long and has an average gradient of 8.2 percent.
