Belgian champion Tom Steels (Davitamon-Lotto) was relatively satisfied with his second place in the first stage of the Tour de Romandie, which was won by Alessandro Petacchi in his typical commanding style. Steels was the only rider who came close to holding Petacchi's wheel at the finish, as third placed Andre Korff was several bike lengths back from the winner.
"It was a finish that went relatively hard uphill, so I'm very satisfied with the second place," Steels told Sporza after the finish. "A flat sprint is another story. I think that I am ready for the Giro."
