Profiles Tour de Romandie 2022

As the spring classics draw to a close, a transitional period in the cycling season begins. Amidst the classics and the Grand Tours, we encounter the Tour de Romandie, which marks the culmination of a busy April month in the World Tour calendar. This race will guide the peloton through six stages across the French part of Switzerland.

The race starts off with a fast prologue in Lausanne. It takes place in the city’s sports center, and despite being only 5.3 kilometers long it includes a short run through an airfield and a ride-around a football stadium. It will kick things off, a leader’s jersey will be up for grabs.

A puncheur’s affair in the second stage. This is a stage that can see some chaos, it is a total roller-coaster throughout the rolling fields of Switzerland. The finale will take place in a circuit around the town of Romont, and although it’s unlikely to have major influence in the overall classification, some riders may loose time if they’re not careful.

Although it is expected that only in the final ascent will there be a vicious battle for the stage win, there are other opportunities with some hills summiting with 18 and 10 kilometers to go. The final ascent takes place in the Romont historical center though, 1.2 kilometers at around 7% average gradient with several winding switchbacks.

The third day of racing provides an opportunity for the fast men but it doesn’t come without it’s fair share of climbing. It’s an interesting day, with a rolling start that can see a breakaway go up the road. You have the hardest climb of the day halfway through with 85 kilometers to go. After the final intermediate sprint the riders will face two small hilltops. These can be decisive with attacks either in a breakaway or peloton, but they can also work to shed fast men from the peloton. Bercher (1.4Km at 5.3%) summits with 19.5Km to go, and Vuarrens (4.5Km at 3.7%) summits with 11.5 kilometers to go.

Although not pan-flat, the roads afterwards don’t present any serious difficulty so a sprint can be achieved, they are straightforward roads where a concerted chase can easily be successful.

Another tricky day in Romandie, roller-coaster from start to finish. With 165 kilometers it is not a long day, but it features many small climbs throughout the day. The decisive set come very close to the line. Two third category ascents, the first is Dompierre (3.6Km at 5%) which comes with just 17 kilometers to the finish. It antecedes a fast descent that goes straight into the steepest ramps of the final hilltop which is in the small village of Sédeilles. This one has 4.5kilometers at 4.4% average gradient and again it is not a climb where real differences can be done between the climbers, however damage can be done.

This comes with just 7.5 kilometers to go, and until the final 1.5 kilometers there is only a fast descent that will allow riders to recover for a final dash to the line.

With only one true mountain stage, likely the favourites will wait for the final ascent, however early on in the day there are some big mountains that will put the hurt on many on stage four of the race. Nax (10.3Km at 7.6%) and the Saint-Luc ascents are both long and with quite decent gradients, that will prepare the riders for the final ascent to Zinal.

This is a very unusual one. In total it features 18 kilometers, but it has several flat and even downhill sections inbetween that break the rhythm of the climb completely. As you can see the climb is split into three, the first 7.8Km at 6.2% are hard but they come too early in the climb to make serious differences, so it is likely that on the second part – Grimentz categorized ascent – will be the place chosen for the main attacks, as it features a constant 6.2Km at 7.1% after the initial effort already.

Afterwards there’s a small ascent before the gradual rise to the line which sees 3.9 kilometers at 5.2%. A very inconsistent climb, it can suit different types of riders, whilst others may hate the changes in pace.

The final challenge. There is nothing tricky about this time-trial, it starts in the World Cycling Center and goes into the center of Aigle before the climb that will be the crucial point of this time-trial.

It is 10.2 kilometers long at 8%, a relatively constant climb in which some impressive climbing performances are to be expected. Crucial differences can be made, taking into account that the race doesn’t feature that many decisive days where gaps can be made.