Tadej Pogacar tidies up after criticism

Some eyebrows had been raised after Tuesday’s disappointing time trial, but Tadej Pogacar, who is not used to finishing in the back positions, took it upon himself over the next two days to make it clear who is the strongest at the Tour of Romandie: indeed, the world champion swept away any doubts about his condition by winning first in Martigny and then in Vucherens, building up a 17″ lead in the overall standings over Florian Lipowitz and putting himself in ideal conditions to win the race on Swiss roads for the first time in his career.

On Thursday’s stage, the UAE Team Emirates champion ruled a thirty-two-strong group at the finish line of the second stage of the Tour de Romandie, ahead of Frenchman Godon (Ineos Grenadiers) and New Zealander Fisher-Black (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe). Good placing for Italian Davide Toneatto (XDS Astana Team), seventh at the finish and in the top group along with Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain-Victorious, 15th), Lorenzo Fortunato (18th place for Toneatto’s teammate) and Marco Frigo (NSN Cycling team, 25th).

Pogacar, in addition to leading the overall standings by 17″ over Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and 26″ over Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious), is also first in the points classification (125: more than double Godon, second at 60). In the compactivity ranking, however, Swiss rider Roland Thalmann (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) excels with 25 points ahead of Martinez’s 15, with the latter being first in the Under classification, 7″ ahead of Jorgen Nordhagen (Team Visma-Lease a Bike).

The 2026 edition of the Tour of Romandie will conclude on Sunday after three more very challenging fractions coming in Orbe, Charmey and on the final finish line in Leysin, respectively.Pogacar still promises spectacle in a race that, apart from the half setback in the prologue, is dominating so far.