2023-04-24 13:29:53
Twenty-five years of waiting! Switzerland has been waiting for a successor to Laurent Dufaux, the last Swiss winner of the Tour de Romandie, since 1998. And this 76th edition, which begins on Tuesday, can smile on Gino Mäder.
In the absence of the top-4 (Pogacar, Evenepoel, Roglic, Vingegaard) of the stage races, the race promises to be very open on the roads of French-speaking Switzerland. The first surprise of this edition is the presence of 15 Swiss riders at the start. A very high figure, partly due to the presence of the new Swiss team Tudor Pro Cycling.
For the general classification, only Gino Mäder seems cut from a Swiss point of view to play the leading roles. “I want to perform as well as in 2022. We’ll see if it works“, cautiously notes the climber from Bahrain, 2nd last year behind the Russian Alexander Vlasov, absent this year.
What regarding Bernal?
Between Port-Valais and Geneva, the contenders for the final victory will undoubtedly be more numerous than usual due to the absence of a rider like Roglic or Evenepoel. 2 years ago, Egan Bernal would have played a scarecrow role when starting.
Today, the Colombian of the Ineos team leaves room for questioning following the serious accident which ruined his 2022 season. Can the winner of the Tour de France 2019 interfere among the favorites when he has not finished the Tour of the Basque Country only in 92nd place and that he did not finish the Tour of Catalonia?
To succeed Vlasov, it seems safer to bet on the Spaniard Juan Ayuso, 4th last year and best youngster, or on his compatriot Ion Izagirre, who will find a ground to his liking. Among the other contenders, we will mention the Briton Simon Yates, the Colombian Sergio Higuita, winner at Zinal in 2022, and the Frenchman Romain Bardet, rather prominent during the Ardennes.
Force climbers to attack
The French-speaking loop will begin with a prologue which will almost look like a real time trial with its 6.8 km. Significant differences might already be created from the outset. After 2 stages reserved in principle for backpackers in the Vallée de Joux and La Chaux-de-Fonds, the first meeting for the general classification will take place in Châtel-St-Denis with a 19 km time trial. A route including the climb to Les Paccots and a rapid descent to Châtel-St-Denis should still crown a rider.
The decision will undoubtedly be made on the final climb of the queen stage between Sion and Thyon 2000. There where the Welshman Geraint Thomas had shaped his victory for the general in 2021 despite a spectacular fall for the finish. The Canadian Michael Woods took the opportunity to win.
Before attacking the final climb towards 2000m, the riders will have to climb two other 1st category climbs in Anzère and Suen. “The goal is for the climbers to lose some time on the Châtel-St-Denis time trial and to be forced to attack in the Thyon stage“, rejoices Richard Chassot, the boss of the Tour de Romandie.
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