Winner last year in the Romandie loops – ahead of Richie Porte – but also in the Tour de France in 2018, Geraint Thomas has decided to go from yellow to green on the occasion of the 75th edition of the Tour de Romandie (from 26 April to May 1) which has regained its former glory for this anniversary edition. The 36-year-old Briton will not be the only one to enter this race with great ambitions. His former teammate, Chris Froome, also winner of the TdR in 2013 and 2014 before chaining in yellow on the roads of France (2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017) also returns with the hope of regaining his level, him who had been trained for a few months at the World Cycling Center in Aigle.
Geraint Thomas and Chris Froome will not be the only favorites on this “75th” since Richard Chassot and his team have formed a magnificent peloton full of top names. Among the 20 teams, we will find other headliners, starting with 14 Swiss including the formation of Swiss Cycling and Michael Flückiger, the Olympic mountain bike medalist in Tokyo. A great revelation for the past two years, Marc Hirschi will also come to refine his form on the roads of Vaud, Friborg and Valais with the hope of winning a good stage just like Simon Pellaud, Sébastien Reichenbach or Gino Mäder.
From the Stade de la Tuilière in Lausanne to Villars/Ollon, via La Grande Béroche, Romont, Echallens, Valbroye, Aigle and Zinal, whether they are adventurers, sprinters but above all climbers will be able to enjoy the most of 13,400 m in altitude on one of the most mountainous routes with a strong Vaud accent in the history of the Tour de Romandie. This should also please Thibaut Pinot, Damiano Caruso, Steven Kruijswijk, Edwar Dunbar and Michael Woods who are determined to put “strong and green” spokes in the wheels of Geraint Thomas and Chris Froome. The fight promises to be great, especially since the Tour de Romandie is announced to be beautiful.