Tour de Romandie neither one-day nor monument, 28/04-03/05 2026

[Potomac]

I wasn't aware that whenever G Thomas, Bernal or another former GT winner did a pull and dropped in some random stage race there was all round procrastination, angst and kerfuffle.

I'm not defending Rog's level here (obviously no bueno and he's getting worse as the season progresses) but I'm totally saying what the hell does it even matter?

Rog will be remembered forever by everyone. He's important.
Thomas and Bernal? National heroes but most people will forget them.

 

[Red Rick]

As a top 3 or 4 GC rider 2019-2024 who is riding on a big contract and who as recently as March 2025 absolutely beasted a stage race, I think it's fair to question what exactly he's doing this year. It would have made sense for me to target a strong spring peak and a second peak for the vuelta. Either he decided just to mess around this spring while not training very hard and still making a lot of money, or he tried to peak and is just not nearly as strong as he was even in March 2025, much less August 2024. G and Bernal were never a Roglic winning all year and with lower peak levels.

Check Bernal's results in early 2018-2019.

 

[Gratemans]

Let's just keep in mind that this as just a bunch of climbers sprinting against eachother. Aside from Pog and Withen Philipsen.

 

[Valv.Piti]

I wasn't aware that whenever G Thomas, Bernal or another former GT winner did a pull and dropped in some random stage race there was all round procrastination, angst and kerfuffle.

I'm not defending Rog's level here (obviously no bueno and he's getting worse as the season progresses) but I'm totally saying what the hell does it even matter?

I was just curious because it makes no sense to me when you have a schedule like his. Logic dictates that you are well prepared here with almost 4 months until the Vuelta - at least thats what I assume and Im sure Roglic fans assumed/hoped as well.

 

[Sciatic]

As a top 3 or 4 GC rider 2019-2024 who is riding on a big contract and who as recently as March 2025 absolutely beasted a stage race, I think it's fair to question what exactly he's doing this year. It would have made sense for me to target a strong spring peak and a second peak for the vuelta. Either he decided just to mess around this spring while not training very hard and still making a lot of money, or he tried to peak and is just not nearly as strong as he was even in March 2025, much less August 2024. G and Bernal were never a Roglic winning all year and with lower peak levels.

it's a Nibali protocol

 

[Red Rick]

What's typical Roglic is that even in the 1st grupetto 3 minutes down he comes in dead last.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

Check Bernal's results in early 2018-2019.

This is why I said "G and Bernal were never a Roglic winning all year and with lower peak levels." Roglic made winning all season cool before Pogacar. He did that for 5 or 6 seasons. Clearly something is different now, so I don't see why it isn't reasonable to discuss that. If this spring reflected his new peak level, it's clearly a lot lower. If it's a decision that he can only peak once in a year now and is just riding these races for training, that's a difference that is worth questioning.

 

[Salvarani]

Form is rarely linear, riders always take a break at some point before August/September, so being worse now than in Tirreno or Itzulia says nothing.

Hell, Pogacar is arguably worse now than at any previous race in the season

Amazing how everything can be correlated to Pog.

 

[Rackham]

I was just curious because it makes no sense to me when you have a schedule like his. Logic dictates that you are well prepared here with almost 4 months until the Vuelta - at least thats what I assume and Im sure Roglic fans assumed/hoped as well.

Well not really since Pog was here so GC was a forgone conclusion. As a fan I was borderline totally disinterested before the race. I don't see how it could be otherwise. I'm going assume something like Burgos will be added to his schedule and that's where visible improvement will be necessary.

And today the tactic was clearly to go for the stage with FF-Black and put the hurt on Godon on the climb. It was close, but not quite enough.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Roglic riding round like Geraint Thomas did in his 30s and peaking for one GT makes perfect sense, longevity more important the older you get, but it's in conflict with the idea of him as a co-leader or tactical card in these races, which is the idea that has been put forward.

 

[Salvarani]

Roglic riding round like Geraint Thomas did in his 30s and peaking for one GT makes perfect sense, longevity more important the older you get, but it's in conflict with the idea of him as a co-leader or tactical card in these races, which is the idea that has been put forward.

It is only really this race he has done this though and judging by the first stage he was still very much riding for GC.

T-A and Milano-Torino he was putting effort in. Did very well.

Last month his form seems to have deteriorated though.

He getting some miles in here, but at this point I dont know how much it is doing for him really. Easy to see and say now, but it would have probably been better to end his spring after Basque and then put in work during the summer to prepare for Burgos with the Vuelta in mind.

 

[kamaveli]

Clearly something is different now, so I don't see why it isn't reasonable to discuss that. If this spring reflected his new peak level, it's clearly a lot lower. If it's a decision that he can only peak once in a year now and is just riding these races for training, that's a difference that is worth questioning.

It's just typical situation of *** team keeping him in the cage. He will be freed come Vuelta.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Lord Pogi had mercy today but not tomorrow. It could be solo this time.

 

[Lequack]

Roglic looks like he can't be bothered to work for others, I mean he never did and I don't know what he was promised in this team. But clearly they want him to be a helper and he just does the bare minimum like "see, I did a pull, now I can rest". At least this looks like from the outside, not sure if there's anything else going on in the team.

 

[Rackham]

There's several conversations going on around the net and in the media about Rog right now so it's tough to parse what's what but the real valid convo IMO is obviously his level. Now he said he hadn't trained and he wasn't here for GC so that's that (but some people thought he was just trolling as per usual). But sure, this season so far is on paper the worst. We can speculate as to why and every opinion here is probably valid until we get the full truth later this year (either he's riding in slow motion to save energy for later or he's really not in it).

But the conversation that's really low IQ and I point my finger at French Eurosport and l'Equipe here is ex-riders like Christophe Riblon going off on a crazed rant today about how disgraceful Rog's attitude is and how he should just retire immediately since he's stealing a living (words to that effect).

That's just rage bait.

 

[Coppi-Bartali]

VPP, weighing 50 kilos, was in the sprint yesterday and today.

 

[search]

VPP, weighing 50 kilos, was in the sprint yesterday and today.

he is one of the fastest GC riders on the flat, yeah. Hard to explain, but it's been more or less the case for two years already.

 

[Berniece]

There's several conversations going on around the net and in the media about Rog right now so it's tough to parse what's what but the real valid convo IMO is obviously his level. Now he said he hadn't trained and he wasn't here for GC so that's that (but some people thought he was just trolling as per usual). But sure, this season so far is on paper the worst. We can speculate as to why and every opinion here is probably valid until we get the full truth later this year (either he's riding in slow motion to save energy for later or he's really not in it).

But the conversation that's really low IQ and I point my finger at French Eurosport and l'Equipe here is ex-riders like Christophe Riblon going off on a crazed rant today about how disgraceful Rog's attitude is and how he should just retire immediately since he's stealing a living (words to that effect).

That's just rage bait.

It depends, if he actually didn’t train, what’s the reason for that? Not feeling it or being ill?

 

[Berniece]

Is everyone going to wait until Pogacar attacks on Jaunpass tomorrow, or do some teams dare to go for the mountain before? It’s a short stage, UAE is ***, this is a chance to isolate him and try something. Would’ve been nice if Roglic was still in GC contention even if it was a red herring

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Is everyone going to wait until Pogacar attacks on Jaunpass tomorrow, or do some teams dare to go for the mountain before? It’s a short stage, UAE is ***, this is a chance to isolate him and try something. Would’ve been nice if Roglic was still in GC contention even if it was a red herring

Remember that there is only 15 km before Jaunpass climb starts. If Pogi is bored he can attack during the first ascent.

 

[Berniece]

Remember that there is only 15 km before Jaunpass climb starts. If Pogi is bored he can attack during the first ascent.

After being easily countered by L Martinez he’s probably to afraid to try that

 

[AmRacer]

After being easily countered by L Martinez he’s probably to afraid to try that

There's no reason for a long range attack

 

[Salvarani]

After being easily countered by L Martinez he’s probably to afraid to try that

Pog might be so afraid that he attacks and goes in the early break

 

[Krzysztof_O]

After being easily countered by L Martinez he’s probably to afraid to try that

Yes, Lenny got mental edge. Not sure if Teddy will attack ever again.

 

[Red Rick]

There's several conversations going on around the net and in the media about Rog right now so it's tough to parse what's what but the real valid convo IMO is obviously his level. Now he said he hadn't trained and he wasn't here for GC so that's that (but some people thought he was just trolling as per usual). But sure, this season so far is on paper the worst. We can speculate as to why and every opinion here is probably valid until we get the full truth later this year (either he's riding in slow motion to save energy for later or he's really not in it).

His coach basically said it but people forget becaues Roglic isn't doing 19 interviews any time he gets dropped, namely that he's no longer getting the same quality of training when he's at home because his kids are getting older and he isn't full monk mode when he's there. That's why the altitude camps are so important for him.

And to me it ties into why he's only doing the Vuelta this year. To keep him mentally fresh, as well as physically.