ANALYSIS: Tadej Pogacar's five biggest rivals at Tour de Romandie 2026

The spring Classics campaign ended in style for Tadej Pogacar, who powered to victory at Liège-Bastogne-Liège to claim the 13th Monument of his career. There is no pause, however, as the Slovenian immediately turns his focus to the Tour de Romandie 2026, which gets underway on Tuesday, April 28.

For the leader of UAE Team Emirates - XRG, the Swiss stage race represents one of the few remaining gaps in his palmarès at WorldTour level. That alone is enough to define his objective this week. Despite the absence of riders such as Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel and Paul Seixas, the race still presents a deep and varied set of general classification challengers.

Among them are Florian Lipowitz and Primoz Roglic for Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe, alongside Oscar Onley and Carlos Rodriguez at INEOS Grenadiers. Lenny Martinez, Jorgen Nordhagen, Antonio Tiberi and home rider Mauro Schmid further underline the strength in depth.

On paper, the team most capable of disrupting Pogacar’s ambitions is Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe. With that in mind, here are five key rivals he must overcome to win the Tour de Romandie.

Florian Lipowitz stands out as the most immediate threat if Pogacar is to be beaten. The German has built a highly consistent season so far and continues to progress towards a Tour de France where he aims to improve on last year’s podium finish.

He has raced four times in 2026 and delivered in each outing. He began with victory in the team time trial at the Trofeo Ses Salines, before finishing eighth overall at the Volta ao Algarve. He then stepped onto the podium at the Volta a Catalunya, won by Jonas Vingegaard, and followed that with second overall at Itzulia Basque Country.

The opening prologue in Romandie could also play a role. Lipowitz has shown strong form in time trials this season, finishing ninth in Algarve and sixth at Itzulia, alongside his earlier victory in Ses Salines.

Just behind him comes team-mate Primoz Roglic. While he may no longer dominate one-week races as he once did, he remains a serious contender in this setting.

The prologue offers an early opportunity to gain time, and Roglic’s enduring strength against the clock could put him firmly into contention from the outset. From there, his experience across multi-day races becomes a major asset.

Crucially, Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe’s dual approach makes him particularly dangerous. With the freedom to race as an alternative option, Roglic can apply pressure to UAE Team Emirates - XRG in different ways. He is supported by Jan Tratnik and Daniel Felipe Martinez, both capable of playing key roles in the mountains.

Outside of Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe, Lenny Martinez arrives in outstanding form. Bahrain Victorious have clearly targeted this race, opting to keep him out of Liège-Bastogne-Liège so he can arrive fresher.

His results this season underline that decision. Martinez has not finished outside the top eight in any race in 2026. He was fifth at the Tour des Alpes-Maritimes, third at the Faun-Ardèche Classic and Drôme Classic, fifth overall at Paris-Nice with a stage win, second overall at the Volta a Catalunya, and eighth at La Flèche Wallonne.

Oscar Onley leads INEOS Grenadiers in search of a first major result since joining the British team. While he has yet to secure an individual victory, the Tour de Romandie offers a strong opportunity to change that and build momentum towards the Tour de France.

He will be supported by Carlos Rodriguez, whose role may prove decisive even if he is not among the leading contenders for the general classification. Injuries have disrupted his recent progress, but his presence still adds depth to the team’s options.

Finally, Jorgen Nordhagen represents one of the most intriguing outsiders. At just 21, he takes on leadership responsibility for Team Visma | Lease a Bike, highlighting the confidence the team has in his long-term potential.

He arrives off a strong second place overall at O Gran Camiño, behind Adam Yates, and earlier secured eighth overall at the UAE Tour, his first WorldTour stage race as team leader.

His results in 2025 also showed clear progression, including fifth overall at the Tour of Guangxi, third at the Tour de l’Avenir, and a top-four finish at the Giro d’Italia U23. The question now is whether he can translate that promise into a breakthrough performance against the strongest opposition.