The second stage of the Tour de Romandie was not easy. The riders faced several ups and downs before they got to the last two real difficulties of the day, the Col des Pontins and the Col de Vue des Alpes.

Thibaut Pinot, escorted by Steve Morabito, finished in the first peloton of 50 riders that was led home by Swiss Michael Albasini (Orica-GreenEdge).

"No, this stage was not easy as we expected," says FDJ sports dorector Yvon Madiot. "But for our leader everything went well. It was not a milestone but it was a test for the legs. They respond well."

The entire FDJ team believe in their leader and work hard to put it in the best conditions. At the moment everything works well.

It was on the climb of the Vue des Alpes that the peloton had split before Rein Taaramae (Astana) attacked alone 12 kilometers from the finish. Nothing, however, could prevent a sprint. In the end, Morabito and Pinot remained in this group including all the favorites except Dan Martin (Garmin-Cannondale).

"The third stage is somewhat similar," ensures Madiot. "It is more difficult in the first part that in the end but it gives us all a great memory because the finish will be in Porrentruy."

This was where Thibaut Pinot took his breakthrough win in the 2012 Tour de France.