'The best form of defence is to attack' – Tadej Pogačar outsprints breakaway to win Tour de Romandie stage 1

Tadej Pogačar claimed a commanding victory on the opening stage of the Tour de Romandie, outsprinting a breakaway group after a decisive attack on the climb of Ovronnaz. The 171km stage, which started and finished in Martigny, saw Pogačar launch his move with 39km remaining, eventually joining forces with three other riders including Florian Lipowitz and Lenny Martinez. Despite having to shoulder much of the workload in the final kilometres, the Slovenian rider powered past his breakaway companions to take the stage win by a clear margin. Throughout the stage’s closing section, Pogačar demonstrated tactical astuteness, choosing not to attack further on the climb but instead collaborating with his breakaway rivals to maintain their advantage over the peloton. He acknowledged the contribution of the younger riders who helped sustain the break, while also noting the lack of support from Lipowitz, whose team-mate Primož Roglič was chasing behind. Pogačar’s ability to manage the headwind and maintain a strong pace was crucial in holding off the peloton’s pursuit and securing the win. Following his victory, Pogačar took over the overall race lead, displacing Dorian Godon, as the general classification reshuffled dramatically. He praised his team’s efforts throughout the day and emphasised their strategy moving forward, stating that the best defence is to attack. This approach underlines UAE Team Emirates’ intent to defend the leader’s jersey aggressively in the coming stages, signalling an assertive campaign for the overall title. The stage results also saw notable performances from several young riders, with Lipowitz and Martinez rounding out the podium, while established names such as Roglič and Antonio Tiberi found themselves further down the standings. The early shake-up in the general classification promises an intriguing battle in the days ahead, with Pogačar setting the tone for a race defined by tactical boldness and endurance.