Kohl starting off at Romandie

The Tour of Romandie got off to a great start for Team Gerolsteiner, with Markus Fothen winning the first stage. But the stage itself didn't get off to a very good start, Berni Kohl reports on his website, bernhardkohl.at

"After only two kilometres the field had to go over a train crossing. As half the filed was through it, suddenly the gates started closed and the field was divided in two. Something like that shouldn't happen so close to the start. Someone should have known that a train would come through at that time."

Kohl praised his winning teammate, saying "he rode a super race. He showed his class, especially in the finale. He had the courage to attack at the right moment and enough patience at the finish to gamble with Francisco Pérez."

The Austrian climber hopes to add to the list of Gerolsteiner stage wins in the race. "The stage win motivated the whole team even more. I am looking forward more than ever to the first real mountain stage on Saturday. When my legs are as good then as they were today, then I can surely ride quite far forward."