PREVIEW | Tour de Romandie 2025 stage 1 - Crazy day in the hills can throw just about any surprise into the mix

The Tour de Romandie will be the final stage-race of the spring period, and the last before the Giro d'Italia. The Swiss race every year attracts some of the best stage-racers in the world for it's climbing and time-trial tests, and this year will be no exception. We preview stage 1.

Stage 1 is just about one of the most unusual days in the World Tour calendar this year, but it could make for very exciting racing. The stage starts with a 1.7-kilometer climb at 10%, and in it's first two thirds there are several short and steep climbs (the final one being 3 kilometers at 12%).

In this phase of the stage, which ends with 75 kilometers to go, there could potentially be some big attacks, because the terrain is favourable for it. However the distance to the finish does pose a big question on who will dare.

The final kilometers will then be rolling, with a few small climbs, two intermediate sprints, and lastly a 9% uphill rise to the final kilometer in Fribourg - an explosive and difficult finale to control.

A very crazy day, but I don't think anyone will go to the absolute limit on the climbs halfway through the day. If they do, 100% GC day. But likely there will be some control, and afterwards some groups should also come back. However the finale will be attack, and the fight for positioning ferocious into the final climb.

It could well end with a victory coming from an attack on the final ascent, or a sprint between those who survive into Fribourg.

*** Oscar Onley, Samuel Watson
** Jan Christen, Remco Evenepoel, Clément Champoussin, Lennert van Eetvelt
* Carlos Rodríguez, João Almeida, Jay Vine, Casper Pedersen, Aleksandr Vlasov, Matteo Sobrero, Luke Plapp, Eddie Dunbar, Lennard Kämna, Pablo Castrillo, Iván Romeo, Lenny Martínez, David Gaudu, Harold Tejada, Milan Menten

Pick: Jan Christen

How: Late attack