Pogačar faces early Romandie test as climbing showdown looms

After an unusual sixth in the prologue for Tadej Pogačar, Stage 1 begins the first of several tough days at the Tour de Romandie. The question is: will he go for it, or take it a bit easier for now? I mean…does he ever take it easy?

He did just race the tough Liège-Bastogne-Liège, which might explain his sixth place in the prologue. It was short, with a bit of a ramp at the end, which you’d think would have suited him. But most of the riders who were up there in the opening test didn’t race the Monument on Sunday. But, after a short effort yesterday, surely Pogi will be back to his regular self and ready to go absolutely nuclear on the climbs.

Stage 1

The first road stage offers both possibilities as the race moves from a short prologue into proper climbing terrain. The race begins and ends in Martigny, but the course is…well, it’s tough.

Repeated climbs up La Rasse will begin to break some legs before the decisive climb to Ovronnaz. That one is almost nine kilometres long and averaging close to 10 per cent. It’s the kind of effort that can reshape a stage long before the finish line appears back in Martigny.

The summit still comes with a long descent and more than 30 km of valley roads, which normally encourages regrouping. But that depends a lot on the rainbow jersey’s mood today. If the race blows up, there won’t be anyone catching back on. Even after finishing sixth in the prologue, Pogačar is still the man to watch. The UAE Team Emirates leader rarely needs repeated invitations when the road tilts upwards. He just remains seated and says, “bye bye, fellas!”

That killer climb towards the end gives exactly the sort of sustained pressure point where he can either test rivals or simply ride away from them. (Or both, all in one.)

Other GC riders

Behind him, the usual GC contenders will be watching closely, and you know, trying to stay on the Slovenian’s wheel. Primož Roglič, Florian Lipowitz, Oscar Onley and Lenny Martinez all have the climbing ability to follow for a while, but the real challenge may come after the attack, not during it. Oakville, Ont.’s Michael Leonard is the sole Canuck in the race. Although he’s definitely a prologue specialist, yesterday’s route may have been better if it was just a super-flat test. He still finished a respectable 30th.

You can watch the race on FloBikes.com, beginning at 9:30 a.m. EDT. Canadian Cycling Magazine will have a report after. And remember as well, the Giro…