“There was no sense trying to drop him” - Tadej Pogacar explains why he didn’t go all-in against Lenny Martinez in Romandie

Tadej Pogacar’s victory on stage 1 of the 2026 Tour de Romandie was built on a decisive move on Ovronnaz, but the Slovenian revealed afterwards that the effort was more measured than it may have appeared.

Having launched the key acceleration on the climb, Pogacar quickly realised he was not alone, with Lenny Martinez able to follow his wheel. That moment, he explained in a post-stage interview with Cycling Pro Net, forced an immediate recalibration.

“A little bit,” he said when asked if Martinez’s presence came as a surprise. “After the first acceleration, I saw that he was super good.”

Rather than forcing the issue, Pogacar chose restraint over risk. “There was no sense trying to drop him because maybe I would explode myself also,” he said, outlining the thinking behind his decision not to push beyond his limit.

That choice proved crucial given the nature of the stage. With a long valley section still to come after the climb and a headwind making solo efforts particularly difficult, Pogacar instead focused on maintaining a sustainable pace rather than attempting to force a race-winning gap too early.

“After that, there was still a long section in the valley, so I needed to have good legs,” he explained. “I was happy that I decided to keep the pace good to the top. Of course it was still full gas, but not over the limit.”

The result was a small group forming over the summit rather than a decisive solo move, with Martinez and later Florian Lipowitz and Jorgen Nordhagen joining the front of the race.

That restraint ultimately left the stage to be decided in a sprint from four riders, a scenario Pogacar was comfortable with given the circumstances. “In the end I was happy,” he said. “I had some company after the climb, which was good because the conditions were tough, especially with the headwind so far from the finish.”

While the move had not created a decisive gap, the race remained finely balanced into the closing kilometres. “The second group was closing quite fast and the line was coming fast in the end, luckily,” he added, underlining the pressure from behind as the chasers reduced the gap.

Despite that, Pogacar backed himself to finish the job. “I’m happy with the sprint from four to win this kind of race.”

The stage also marked Pogacar’s return to stage racing after a successful run through the spring classics, bringing a different set of demands. “Yes, it was a bit of a hard transition today, going from short climbs to longer, steeper ones,” he said. “But I managed pretty well, so I’m happy.”

With tougher stages still to come, the Slovenian suggested that the parcours ahead could suit him even more. “Today was just one climb, but I think in the next days it is even more suited for me,” he added, having already secured the leader’s jersey.

While the result reinforces Pogacar’s status as the rider to beat, his comments offer a more nuanced picture of how the stage was won.

Rather than a straightforward show of dominance, it was a calculated ride shaped by conditions, terrain and the unexpected strength of a rival able to match his initial acceleration.

That balance between aggression and control proved decisive on the day, and may offer an early indication of how Pogacar approaches the remainder of the race.