Tour de Romandie 2022 (April 26 - May 1)

[Devil's Elbow]

Back into Alpine terrain we go.

Startlist

https://www.facebook.com/288468763318759/posts/353014853530816

Prologue
A dying breed, but not in Switzerland.

Stage 1
The HTF is the same as in the 2019 stage, won by David Gaudu, the run-in is completely different though.

Massonnens + finish (based on roadbook)

Stage 2
A sprint, potentially.

Final two uncategorised hills (this and the rest of my profiles based on Swisstopo)

Stage 3
Not the steepest climbs, but then again there's next to no flat in the final 25 kilometres. This one could go a lot of ways.

Châbles (still had a profile from last year)

Dompierre (both ascents are the same)

Sédeilles

Stage 4
The queen stage.

Nax

Les Pontis + Saint-Luc (as far as the junction to Saint-Luc 5.2k before the end of the profile)

Les Pontis + Grimentz (as far as the junction to Zinal 7.8k before the end of the profile)

Zinal (final 4k only)

Stage 5
The other forgotten TT subdiscipline to close out the race (well, aside from long TTs). The climb is the same as in the 2018 MTT, which was not won by Primoz Roglic as about half the forum has pointed out - oops.

Villars-sur-Ollon (the profile below until 8k to go, then 300 metres at 8.3% to the finish line)

 

[HelloDolly]

Marc Hirshi its your time to shine in the Simon Spilak Grand Tour Classic

 

[JosefK]

That is a short prologue (I know, I'm being redundant). But even for a prologue, it's short.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

That is a short prologue (I know, I'm being redundant). But even for a prologue, it's short.

It has to be under 8 kilometres to count as a prologue, so it isn't that short. Especially not compared to the one where the below happened.

 

[Escarabajo]

Nice parcours. There will be separation with 1 prologue, 1 hard mountain stage and 1 hard MTT. The other stages are decent for breakaways.

For some reason this race never has prompted my interest. Not sure what it is. Maybe because it rains all the time. LOL.

Final tuning for the Giro for some riders.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Nice parcours. There will be separation with 1 prologue, 1 hard mountain stage and 1 hard MTT. The other stages are decent for breakaways.

For some reason this race never has prompted my interest. Not sure what it is. Maybe because it rains all the time. LOL.

Final tuning for the Giro for some riders.

Don't know who would ride the Giro and go all out here, which is a shame. There should have been more time between this and the Giro. I think many of those doing the Giro will not stay for the full 5 days.

 

[tobydawq]

Don't know who would ride the Giro and go all out here, which is a shame. There should have been more time between this and the Giro. I think many of those doing the Giro will not stay for the full 5 days.

It's 6 days.

Also, it was Bernal who won the MTT in 2018, narrowly beating Roglic.

 

[Wvv]

I wonder if McNulty will continue his early season level.
I wonder if Quinten Hermans can win a stage.
I wonder if Bevin will confirm Turkey.
I wonder a lot of things.
I wonder if that's ok.

#postclassicsblues

 

[search]

I think many of those doing the Giro will not stay for the full 5 days.

who is affected by that at all? Gaviria?!

 

[Red Rick]

Eh Bernal won the MTT in 2018, not Roglic.

 

[tobydawq]

Eh Bernal won the MTT in 2018, not Roglic.

#slowpoke

 

[Red Rick]

#slowpoke

starts singing oops I did it again

 

[gregrowlerson]

Marc Hirshi its your time to shine in the Simon Spilak Grand Tour Classic

Surprisingly, Sir Simon only won this race once, though this is probably because he was never afraid to face a strong field outside of his own country.

Unsurprisingly, with a 4 Time Tour Winner on the startlist, Remco Evenepoel is nowhere to be seen.

 

[wheresmybrakes]

I'm assuming Uran was ok after his crash in LBL seeing he's down for this race.

 

[OlavEH]

Both route and peloton seems underwhelming. Only two of the top 8-10 GC riders that are not going to the Giro are present (of various reasons of course, but still........).

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I'm assuming Uran was ok after his crash in LBL seeing he's down for this race.

According to the team only Eiking and Guerreiro were badly hurt in the crash.

 

[search]

According to the team only Eiking and Guerreiro were badly hurt in the crash.

Uran didn't look good either, though

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[Samu Cuenca]

Uran didn't look good either, though

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Still I assume they wouldn't have him start the race if he wasn't able to ride. That doesn't mean he'll be able to be competitve though, so Powless may very well be their sole leader.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Don't know who would ride the Giro and go all out here, which is a shame. There should have been more time between this and the Giro. I think many of those doing the Giro will not stay for the full 5 days.

Not to mention that it's usuallly raining cats and dogs during this race.
Probably Haig and Caruso vs Thomas for the gc. Curious to see how Plapp will do and Pinot could do well.
If it's cold and rainy I expect Kuss to have at least one off day, but it wouldn't surprise me to see Rohan Dennis actually doing really well here.

 

[AlfaLum]

Not to mention that it's usuallly raining cats and dogs during this race.
Probably Haig and Caruso vs Thomas for the gc. Curious to see how Plapp will do and Pinot could do well.
If it's cold and rainy I expect Kuss to have at least one off day, but it wouldn't surprise me to see Rohan Dennis actually doing really well here.

Haig is not starting, but he is *** in cold weather anyhow. He had a huge off day in Romandie last year as well.

I think it will be Bora (Vlasov/Higuita) vs. Caruso vs. Thomas vs. Woods. Vs. O’Connor.

 

[search]

Still I assume they wouldn't have him start the race if he wasn't able to ride. That doesn't mean he'll be able to be competitve though, so Powless may very well be their sole leader.

hard to say. They only have 5 riders anyway, and with less than that they wouln't be allowed to participate. So could be everything from fully fit, to abandony after the prologue.

 

[search]

I think it will be Bora (Vlasov/Higuita) vs. Caruso vs. Thomas vs. Woods. Vs. O’Connor.

I'd add Kruijswijk as well. He looked good in Catalunya, on terrain which didn't really suit him at all. The MTT now should be perfect for him, if there's anything left of his former self.

 

[gregrowlerson]

I would have thought Schachmann could be a chance in this field.

 

[AlfaLum]

I'd add Kruijswijk as well. He looked good in Catalunya, on terrain which didn't really suit him at all. The MTT now should be perfect for him, if there's anything left of his former self.

Nah for the time being I am not gonna include Kruijswijk anywhere. I don’t think he looked that good in Catalunya and the guy has only 2 pro wins in 12 years and has been declining since 2019. Would be really surprised if he wins this thing.

 

[search]

I would have thought Schachmann could be a chance in this field.

most likely not, he returns from a six-week absence due to illness, and hasn't trained much. I'd also generally say that he has turned more into a rider for hills rather than mountains over the past years. Oddly enough, also his sprint has gotten worse, though.