Stage 2 of the Tour de Romandie is likely to be a clash between puncheurs and climbers. The second day of road racing offers a deceptively tricky route from Rue to Vucherens. After Tadej Pogačar took a win, outsprinting a four-man break on Wednesday, Thursday’s rolling parcours could open the door to other opportunists. Pogačar may find himself in a defensive role. Right now he has seven seconds on Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe) and 16 on Lenny Martinez (Bahrain – Victorious).
There are no long alpine ascents during Stage 3 but the constant up-and-down profile will wear on the peloton. The climb to Vuillens, which the riders will hit three times, looms large, especially with its final summit coming just two kilometres from the line. It’s the kind of finish that invites late attacks and punishes hesitation.
On paper, this may be the “easiest stage” of the week, which complicates matters. UAE Team Emirates-XRG may prefer to let a break go. Still, depending on how things play out, a reduced sprint remains possible, but nothing here feels straightforward, especially when the world champion is racing. He may go for another win if there’s a small group. He does like winning.
On Wednesday Tadej Pogačar took his first career stage win at the race. (It was also his first appearance there, so that kinda tracks.) The world champion got away with three others on the final climb and proved strongest in the sprint down into the valley. With the win, he also moved into the overall lead, taking the jersey from Dorian Godon.
Pogačar took sixth in the prologue on Tuesday, his first ever ride in the discipline. Oakville, Ont.’s Michael Leonard (EF Education-EasyPost) came in 30th. The Canadian TT champion sits 21st overall. He finished in the main selection yesterday, in 26th.
Race coverage begins at 9:30 a.m. EDT on Flobikes.com, and check back here on Canadian Cycling Magazine for a full report.
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