Valentin Paret-Peintre is back at the start of the race for the first time since 2022, his neo-pro season.
The first of the two World Tour races that take place in Switzerland, the Tour de Romandie runs between 28 April-3 May, when the peloton will take on a six-day course totalling over 850 kilometers. This 79th edition is the one with the fewest kilometers of time trial this century, only 3.2 on the opening day, in Villars-sur-Glâne, where the first yellow jersey of the competition will be awarded.
Puncheurs and climbers alike will get plenty of opportunities over the next days to go for victory or make an important step towards a good result on the general classification, especially on the fourth stage, when they are set to tackle the daunting Jaunpass three times. Sunday brings the race’s only mountaintop finish, and for the third time in the last decade, the bunch will tackle the demanding climb taking them to Leysin, the resort village located in the Vaud Alps, which averages 5.9% over 14.3 kilometers.
Soudal Quick-Step will be at the start of the race with a strong seven-man team consisting of Steff Cras, Gil Gelders, Junior Lecerf, Valentin Paret-Peintre - who was fourth overall at the Volta a Catalunya just one month ago - Casper Pedersen, Maximilian Schachmann, and Louis Vervaeke.
The Tour de Romandie is a race with a lot of opportunities, whether that’s going for the general classification or targeting stages.
“The parcours is a demanding one, but we’ve come here with a solid and balanced squad, so the goal is to be present in the race every day and take our chances when they come”, explained sports director Niki Terpstra.
Photo credit: ©Szymon Gruchalski / Getty Images
