OFFICIAL: Primoz Roglic returns to competition, and faces Tadej Pogacar at the Tour de Suisse

The 2026 Tour de Suisse begins this Wednesday, with Tadej Pogacar as its headliner and main favourite for the overall classification. In Switzerland, the Slovenians may rule in the mountains, as Primoz Roglic's presence as Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe leader has been confirmed.

Roglic, on contract year and perhaps the final season of his career, has taken up a secondary calendar for his second half of the season, skipping the Giro d'Italia and Tour de Suisse; and instead putting his focus on the Vuelta a España.

Roglic was fifth at Tirreno-Adriatico and third at Milano-Torino where he shared leadership with Giulio Pellizzari; but his role this year has changed with the team, combining leadership duties with supporting roles depending on the races.

After his presence at Itzulia Basque Country, he was at the Tour de Romandie as a domestique for Florian Lipowitz. In May he has spent time in altitude, preparing the Tour de Suisse - the last of the main World Tour one-week races that he doesn't have in his palmarès. However, with Pogacar at the start, it will be a mammoth task to win it.

The Slovenian and Aleksandr Vlasov will aim for the overall classification in the five-day race, which features a circuit around Villars-sur-Ollon on the final stage. Stage 4 will be a time trial whilst the first two days feature explosive hilly finishes suited to the veteran.

Finn Fisher-Black, after also competing at the recent Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, should also have freedom to pursue his results on the hilly days. The trio will be supported by the Italian climber Giovanni Aleotti, Emil Herzog, Alexander Hajek and Frederik Wandahl.