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

[canina82]

This one, until the town of Ovronnaz.

So PCS is wrong, I don't see a flat section there.

 

[Red Rick]

So PCS is wrong, I don't see a flat section there.

It's there, they just excluded it from the GPM.

 

[Breh]

Romandie will forever be the race in which Zakarin presented himself to the world

 

[canina82]

It's there, they just excluded it from the GPM.

Maybe I'm very stupid and I'm not understanding but I don't see a flat section from 4-3 km to the top.

CyclingCols – Ovronnaz – ride every col ⛰️🚴

www.cyclingcols.com

Don't think it was ever (or not in modern years at least) used in a decisive phase of the race - only early on in 2024. In a somewhat similar finish in 2010 it was climbed from the other side.

 

[search]

Maybe I'm very stupid and I'm not understandunderstanding but I don't see a flat section from 4-3 km to the top.

they don't do the final 2k tomorrow. Forgot to mention that earlier on

 

[YavorD]

Maybe I'm very stupid and I'm not understandunderstanding but I don't see a flat section from 4-3 km to the top.

If you look at this profile, the climb ends on ~1600 meters elevation.
Check PCS profile, they finish it below 1400. There's your difference, you probably have the categorisation before the flat-ish part.

 

[canina82]

they don't do the final 2k tomorrow. Forgot to mention that earlier on

And like RR said, the GPM is at 4 km. Thanks, now I understood it.

 

[Potomac]

I'm late to this party...why only 15 teams in this race.

 

[search]

I'm late to this party...why only 15 teams in this race.

Four WT teams used their joker, Q36.5 denied the invitation due to injuries, and (as far as I understood) the national team is not allowed to take part anymore.

Organisers said that they would have handed out another wildcard if they knew all this in advance, but their lack of funds probably played a part as well.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

For five years, GOAT stage racer observed Pogi from the distance and Pogi wasn't ready, now it's time again, for their paths to cross on a week long stage race.

Hardest climb ahead tomorrow and i feel that RBH has the situation under control.

Rogla is such a generous guy. He let his apprentice rack up one-weekers for 5 years without interfering. Now it's time for Pogi to face his master again. Is he ready? The climb today seems a bit too long for him...

 

[Eagle_Alps]

Meanwhile, Dorian G. gets to wear the nicest yellow leaders jersey ever: no ugly sponsor logos whatsoever on it.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

But That is no so clear. He has just came from Liege, he has harder stages, and there are 25 km totally flat at the end. If any team organize behind it would be normal to catch him.

The peleton will be in shreds after tackling this wall, no organized team remaining. I suppose the best guys could be 1-1.5 minutes behind Pogacar on the top. Pogacar could let it go today and get ready for other stages but this climb looks like the best climbing test and Pog just can't help himself quite often.

 

[Red Rick]

The peleton will be in shreds after tackling this wall, no organized team remaining. I suppose the best guys could be 1-1.5 minutes behind Pogacar on the top. Pogacar could let it go today and get ready for other stages but this climb looks like the best climbing test and Pog just can't help himself quite often.

1 minute to 1'30 seems on the conservative side. The only good argument against it is that it's so easy the fatigue resistance should be negligible.

And I'm not a big believer that Pogacar would be in way worse climbing shape now.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

1 minute to 1'30 seems on the conservative side. The only good argument against it is that it's so easy the fatigue resistance should be negligible.

And I'm not a big believer that Pogacar would be in way worse climbing shape now.

We've seen that guys can have very good w/kg for fresher efforts (I.e. Lipo and Rogla on Mt Ventoux last year, despite Pog & Vingo shattering the record). That's why I think it will be closer to 1 minute than to 2 minutes.

Pogacar's Redoute or Cipressa showed his peak aerobic power is great (it's not like those 2 additional kilos are just fat, they also produce power) so I suppose he should be really good for upper Z4/lower Z5 climbs as well (but not as good as after altitude camp and shredding a bit)

 

[Red Rick]

We've seen that guys can have very good w/kg for fresher efforts (I.e. Lipo and Rogla on Mt Ventoux last year, despite Pog & Vingo shattering the record). That's why I think it will be closer to 1 minute than to 2 minutes.

Pogacar's Redoute or Cipressa showed his peak aerobic power is great (it's not like those 2 additional kilos are just fat, they also produce power) so I suppose he should be really good for upper Z4/lower Z5 climbs as well (but not as good as after altitude camp and shredding a bit)

Ventoux had Campenaerts pace a large section before Vingegaard and Pogacar started messing around into a big headwind.

Seixas basically took a minute on an easier climb in Itzulia. The only thing that may counteract the trend is that that Itzulia stage was slightly harder overall and G2 doing weird tactical *** should be less of a thing on a steeper climb.

 

[canina82]

1 minute to 1'30 seems on the conservative side. The only good argument against it is that it's so easy the fatigue resistance should be negligible.

And I'm not a big believer that Pogacar would be in way worse climbing shape now.

The problem is UAE will suffocate other teams before the steepest section so if you are tired (due to a nuclear tempo) and you still have to climb 5 km at 10-11%, you are gonna lose a lot.

 

[search]

Gaudu meanwhile still left room for his single good day of the race to come later on

turns out he had to change bikes, so it may have been his good day already

Onley on the other hand seems to be sick, based on his Strava post. Non-existant recovery, and was separated from the team

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Ventoux had Campenaerts pace a large section before Vingegaard and Pogacar started messing around into a big headwind.

Seixas basically took a minute on an easier climb in Itzulia. The only thing that may counteract the trend is that that Itzulia stage was slightly harder overall and G2 doing weird tactical *** should be less of a thing on a steeper climb.

1'30'' should be the final verdict by the forum's finest experts then

 

[canina82]

Pogacar in a real fresh (MTT in the TdF) effort gained 1'39" in 7 km to Lipowitz. Onley lost 1'36". I'm not sure they will lose closer to 1' than 2'.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Pogacar in a real fresh (MTT in the TdF) effort gained 1'39" in 7 km to Lipowitz. Onley lost 1'36". I'm not sure they will lose closer to 1' than 2'.

Gaps in the MTT were huge indeed (for such a short climb) but hard & hot Hautacam stage the previous day means it wasn't a totally fresh effort.

 

[canina82]

How is the wind for the climb?

 

[canina82]

Gaps in the MTT were huge indeed (for such a short climb) but hard & hot Hautacam stage the previous day means it wasn't a totally fresh effort.

I still think it was a fresher effort than what riders will have today before the climb. It's not just flat before the climb and UAE will go hard.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

How is the wind for the climb?

Headwind

 

[Berniece]

I still think it was a fresher effort than what riders will have today before the climb. It's not just flat before the climb and UAE will go hard.

I don't think so. They already did 12 stages before doing the MTT, and that first week was extremely intense. Now they did a prologue and today they ride 130km basically flat roads before climbing. They are much more fresh today.

Hope UAE sets a high pace though, and it's not just Pogacar that rides away and then a peloton of 10 riders. Lipowitz should be taking time here too if he can.

 

[Red Rick]

Headwind

I'm seeing 3km/h predicted. Massive if true.