Tadej Pogačar the clear favourite at his first stage race of the year – Analysing the Tour de Romandie contenders

Tadej Pogačar enters the 2026 Tour de Romandie as the clear favourite despite it being his debut in the Swiss stage race. Known for his dominance in one-day Classics, Pogačar has yet to contest a stage race this season, making Romandie a key part of his build-up to the Tour de France. The race’s profile, featuring a short prologue and predominantly hilly stages with only one summit finish, presents a different challenge to the longer mountain climbs he usually faces. Nevertheless, his recent form, highlighted by a fourth victory at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, positions him as the rider to beat. The Tour de Romandie route includes a 3.2km flat time trial to open the race, followed by five road stages that vary between medium mountain and hilly terrain. The final two stages, with significant elevation gains and category-1 climbs, will be decisive for the general classification, culminating in a 14.3km summit finish at Leysin. This varied terrain offers opportunities not only for GC contenders but also for breakaway specialists and riders targeting individual stage wins, making the race tactically complex and unpredictable. Challengers to Pogačar’s supremacy include Florian Lipowitz and Primož Roglič of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, as well as Oscar Onley from Ineos Grenadiers and Antonio Tiberi of Bahrain Victorious. Lipowitz, fresh off podium finishes in Catalunya and Itzulia Basque Country, arrives in strong form and is expected to lead his team’s bid to dethrone Pogačar. Roglič, though seemingly second in team hierarchy, remains a formidable presence capable of influencing the race outcome. Meanwhile, Onley and Tiberi represent the younger generation eager to make their mark in a competitive field. The race serves as a rare opportunity for Pogačar’s rivals to challenge him on terrain that is less mountainous and more suited to aggressive, opportunistic racing. With many teams fielding strong squads and the race’s tactical nuances, the Tour de Romandie promises an intense battle for supremacy ahead of the summer’s Grand Tours. Observers will be keen to see how Pogačar adapts to this different style of racing and whether his rivals can capitalise on the varied stages to disrupt his dominance.