Kloeden wins third stage to seize Tour of Romandie lead

By Francois Thomazeau

SION, Switzerland (Reuters) - Andreas Kloeden, done out of the top two stage races this season, snatched the lead in the Tour de Romandie on Friday with victory in the third-stage individual time trial.

Twice a Tour de France runner-up, in 2004 and 2006, the German will not have the chance of going for victory this year in the world's biggest race after his Astana team was not invited because of its past doping record.

As a result, the Tour de Romandie became a major objective for the Berliner, whose team have also been declined a place in the Giro d'Italia although they will take part in the Tour of Spain.

Kloeden won in 25 minutes and 32 seconds, at a rather low average speed of 44.19 kph, a testament to the toughness of the 18.8-km course, which included a steep hill halfway.

The other pre-race favourite, last year's winner Thomas Dekker, finished six seconds adrift with the rest of the field more than 20 seconds further back.

Overall, Kloeden leads Dutch rival Dekker by five seconds, a slim margin ahead of a short but daunting mountain stage from Sion to Zinal on Saturday. Czech Roman Kreuziger is third, 35 seconds behind.

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