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Tadej Pogačar faces a tough transition as he tackles his first mountain of 2026 at the Tour de Romandie. This stage reveals how he balances strategy and strength in his pursuit of victory.
After a Classics-heavy start to the season, claiming wins in Strade Bianche, Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Pogačar now shifts focus to stage racing. The climb at Ovrannax, with its 8.7km length and 9.7% gradient, proves challenging, marking his first significant ascent since Il Lombardia last October.
Pogačar acknowledges the difficulty of adapting from shorter climbs to this steep ascent, stating, “It was a little bit of a hard transition today.” Despite the hurdles, he seizes victory through tactical riding, holding back his aggressive instincts. After launching an attack 4km from the summit, he quickly realizes the need for teammates as they navigate a tough headwind on the descent.
Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) initially keeps pace, joined by Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and Jorgen Nordhagen (Visma-Lease a Bike) in a breakaway. Pogačar concludes that having company was crucial for managing the conditions as he aims for further success in the race.
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