Sawt Falasteen - Almeida wins Tour de Romandie as Evenepoel claims closing time-trial

"The goal was to win the race," Almeida said. "What counts is the last day, right?"

The day before, Almeida lost a mountain-top duel to Frenchman Lenny Martinez, a specialist climber, in an Alpine stage.

Entering Sunday's time trial, Martinez led Italian Lorenzo Fortunato by two seconds and Portuguese rider Almeida by three seconds.

Evenepoel, the Olympic and world time trial-champion, powered away to win the flat 17.1km stage in 20mins 33secs.

Almeida was next fastest, 12 second behind. The diminutive Martinez was 13th, 41sec behind the winner to secure second overall. Fortunato was another 40 places and 55sec behind.

Australian Jay Vine jumped to third overall.

Evenepoel, who returned last month after four months out injured and recorded some promising results in the one-day classics, was testing himself in a stage race as he prepared for the Tour de France. He finished eighth overall.

"I knew I was coming to this race with some up and down form, so I didn't have big ambitions. I was mainly focusing on today's stage," said the Belgian.

"I still have more than two months before the Tour de France, so I have to be patient and work day by day."

A.AlHaj--SF-PST