Can anyone beat Tadej Pogačar? - Tour de Romandie prologue start times and order

The 2026 Tour de Romandie is set to begin with a brief but decisive prologue time trial in Villars-sur-Glâne, featuring a 3.2km course that combines a flat or downhill start with a steep 1.1km climb at the finish. This opening stage is expected to establish the first race leader and provide an early indication of form among the general classification (GC) contenders. Despite the climb, the short distance favours powerful riders and time trial specialists, making it a key battleground for riders aiming to gain an early advantage. Among the favourites to contest the prologue win is Tadej Pogačar of UAE Team Emirates-XRG, who will start last, carrying the number one bib. He faces stiff competition from other strong time trialists such as Luke Plapp (Jayco AlUla), Jakob Söderqvist (Lidl-Trek), and Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), all capable of delivering fast efforts on this challenging course. The short nature of the time trial should limit significant time losses for climbers, but every second will count given the tight margins expected. The prologue will commence at 15:45 CEST, with riders departing at one-minute intervals, starting with Movistar’s Davide Formolo. Key GC hopefuls will appear throughout the afternoon, including Oscar Onley (Ineos Grenadiers) and Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious), with Pogačar’s late start at 17:27 promising a thrilling climax to the opening stage. The staggered start order ensures a dynamic competition, as riders will be chasing the clock rather than direct rivals on the road. This opening time trial sets the tone for what promises to be a closely fought Tour de Romandie, with the prologue winner gaining an early psychological edge. Teams and riders will be keen to capitalise on any time gained here to build momentum ahead of the subsequent stages, which will likely feature more demanding climbs. The race’s opening day will thus be a critical test of power, pacing, and strategy, with Pogačar and his rivals all vying to assert their dominance from the outset.