Bradley Wiggins retains Tour de Romandie lead after second stage

Britain's Bradley Wiggins finished in the main bunch as he retained the overall lead of the Tour de Romandie.

Team Sky controlled the pace on the 149.1km stage in Switzerland to ensure Wiggins maintained his seven-second lead over team-mate Michael Rogers.

"Once again, they were incredible," said Wiggins of his team-mates. "You're nothing without a good team and they're probably the strongest in the race."

The second stage of the five-stage race was won by France's Jonathan Hivert.

The Saur-Sojasun rider won a sprint finish ahead of Rui Costa and Luis Leon Sanchez to end Team Sky's winning streak after Geraint Thomas won the prologue and Wiggins took the first stage.

YELLOW JERSEY STANDINGS

1st Bradley Wiggins (8hrs 42mins 02secs)

2nd Michael Rogers (+7secs)

3rd Bauke Mollema (+9secs)

4th Stef Clement (+11secs)

5th Andrew Talansky (+11secs)

6th Luis Leon Sanchez (+12secs)

7th Wilco Kelderman (+12secs)

8th David Zabriskie (+12secs)

The Brit now faces three more stages to hold on to the race leader's yellow jersey.

Wiggins finished 42nd in the race from Montbeliard to Moutier and holds a lead over Australian Rogers in second, with third-placed Bauke Mollema two seconds further back and two riders 11 seconds adrift in joint-fourth.

Team Sky's sprint specialist Mark Cavendish finished more than eight minutes behind the leaders after suffering a mechancial problem at the foot of the category two La Caquerelle climb.

Friday's third stage is a 157.6km ride from La Neuveville to Charmey which features three categorised climbs and a five-kilometre uphill finish.