Preview Tour of Romandie 2025 | Evenepoel picks up stage racing right after Liège
CyclingSaturday, 26 April 2025 at 11:42
Barely two days after Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the WorldTour teams are already shifting their focus to Romandie, where one of the tougher week-long(ish) stage races is on the calendar. We won’t see many Giro favorites lining up at the start here, but that doesn’t make the start list any less interesting. IDLProCycling.com gives you a preview of the action!
In the years when Sky/INEOS were chasing Tour victories, the Swiss race was traditionally seen as one of the key indicators ahead of the Tour de France. In 2025, the focus has largely shifted to altitude training camps, but with riders like Remco Evenepoel and Joao Almeida present, quality certainly isn’t lacking. Giro favorites will not be lining up at the start here, as Romandie is too close to the three-week race in Italy.
Last year, Carlos Rodriguez claimed the overall victory after a very exciting finale, thus restoring the series of INEOS wins from the 2010s. The BORA-hansgrohe duo Aleksandr Vlasov and Florian Lipowitz finished at seven and nine seconds behind, respectively.
Most recent winners Tour of Romandie 2025
2024 Carlos Rodriguez
2023 Adam Yates
2022 Alexander Vlasov
2021 Geraint Thomas
2020 Not ridden
2019 Primoz Roglic
2018 Primoz Roglic
2017 Richie Porte
2016 Nairo Quintana
2015 Ilnur Zakarin
2023 Adam Yates
2022 Alexander Vlasov
2021 Geraint Thomas
2019 Primoz Roglic
2018 Primoz Roglic
2017 Richie Porte
2016 Nairo Quintana
2015 Ilnur Zakarin
Tour of Romandie 2025: Course, times and stage favorites
Prologue, Tuesday, April 29: Saint-Imier - Saint-Imier (3.4 km)
As every year, the Tour of Romandie kicks off with a short prologue. This season, it takes place in Saint-Imier and is 3.4 kilometers long. Last season, Maikel Zijlaard took the prologue win — who will get to celebrate this year?
Favorites
Stefan Bissegger (Decathlon AG2R)
Maikel Zijlaard (Tudor)
Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step)
Stefan Bissegger (Decathlon AG2R)
Maikel Zijlaard (Tudor)
Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step)
Times
Start: 3:30 PM local time / 9:30 AM EDT (first rider)
Finish: 5:34 PM local time / 11:34 AM EDT (last rider)
Start: 3:30 PM local time / 9:30 AM EDT (first rider)
Finish: 5:34 PM local time / 11:34 AM EDT (last rider)
Stage 1, Wednesday, April 30: Münchenstein - Fribourg (194.3 km)
The first road stage suits the punchers and sprinters who are also skilled at climbing. Over the course of the day, some elevation gain will be tackled, finishing in Fribourg after a final kilometer at an average gradient of 6.7%.
Favorites
Jan Christen (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Andrea Vendrame (Decathlon AG2R)
Louis Barré (Intermarché-Wanty)
Jan Christen (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Andrea Vendrame (Decathlon AG2R)
Louis Barré (Intermarché-Wanty)
Times
Start: 12:45 PM local time / 6:45 AM EDT
Finish: 5:25 PM local time / 11:25 AM EDT
Start: 12:45 PM local time / 6:45 AM EDT
Finish: 5:25 PM local time / 11:25 AM EDT
Stage 2, Thursday, May 1: La Grande Béroche - La Grande Béroche (157.0 km)
On May 1st, Labor Day, the riders will certainly feel the workload, as the organizers have set a tough stage. Via the Col de la Tourne and Muauborget, the route heads over Les Grattes to Chaumont, where a brutal wall awaits: 3.2 kilometers at 11.4% average gradient. After that, about fifty flat kilometers remain.
Favorites
Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step)
Clément Champoussin (XDS-Astana)
Ivan Romeo (Movistar)
Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step)
Clément Champoussin (XDS-Astana)
Ivan Romeo (Movistar)
Times
Start: 1:40 PM local time / 7:40 AM EDT
Finish: 5:27 PM local time / 11:27 AM EDT
Start: 1:40 PM local time / 7:40 AM EDT
Finish: 5:27 PM local time / 11:27 AM EDT
Stage 3, Friday, May 2: Cossonay - Cossonay (183.1 km)
Friday's stage takes place in and around Cossonay. Riders will cover several different local circuits. The final three kilometers also rise uphill rather sharply, so this day might present a good opportunity for the breakaway?
Favorites
Matthew Brennan (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Jan Christen (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Kasper Asgreen (EF Education-EasyPost)
Matthew Brennan (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Jan Christen (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Kasper Asgreen (EF Education-EasyPost)
Times
Start: 1:05 PM local time / 7:05 AM EDT
Finish: 5:23 PM local time / 11:23 AM EDT
Start: 1:05 PM local time / 7:05 AM EDT
Finish: 5:23 PM local time / 11:23 AM EDT
Stage 4, Saturday, May 4: Sion - Thyon 2000 (127.4 km)
Saturday's stage in the Tour of Romandie is traditionally the queen stage, and 2025 is no different. From Sion, riders must tackle five tough climbs in just 127 kilometers, with the final climb, Thyon 2000, being the hardest. It’s 20.2 kilometers long with an average gradient of 7.7% — hallelujah!
Favorites
Joao Almeida (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step)
Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious)
Joao Almeida (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step)
Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious)
Times
Start: 12:10 PM local time / 6:10 AM EDT
Finish: 3:59 PM local time / 9:59 AM EDT
Start: 12:10 PM local time / 6:10 AM EDT
Finish: 3:59 PM local time / 9:59 AM EDT
Stage 5, Sunday, May 5: Geneva - Geneva (17.1 km)
The Tour of Romandie starts with a prologue and ends… with a time trial! No wonder so many time trial specialists have traveled to Switzerland, where after the final stage they can easily head to Geneva airport.
Favorites
Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step)
Joao Almeida (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ)
Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step)
Joao Almeida (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ)
Times
Start: 1 PM local time / 7 AM EDT (first rider)
Finish: 4 PM local time / 10 AM EDT (last rider)
Start: 1 PM local time / 7 AM EDT (first rider)
Finish: 4 PM local time / 10 AM EDT (last rider)
Favorites final classification Tour of Romandie 2025
The Tour of Romandie starts with two top favorites: Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) and Joao Almeida (UAE Emirates-XRG). The Belgian from Soudal Quick-Step will encounter a course perfectly suited to his skills, thanks to the two time trials, but he has already had a busy racing period with the Ardennes Classics. Knowing Evenepoel, he’ll still be motivated to show what he can do in Switzerland.
Almeida, former teammate of Evenepoel, heads to Romandie with ambition after winning the Tour of the Basque Country. The stoic Portuguese rider also has a strong team around him, including young top talent Jan Christen and Giro-bound Jay Vine. If in form, these riders can also go far.
Who else is in the mix? Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious), fifth in Catalonia and fourth in La Flèche Wallonne; Aleksandr Vlasov (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), second last year; and talents like Lennert Van Eetvelt (Lotto) and Oscar Onley (Picnic PostNL) who will be looking to prove themselves. And of course, defending champion Carlos Rodriguez, although he returns from injury with INEOS. Maybe Laurens De Plus can seize his chance there.
Movistar is bringing the strong duo of Ivan Romeo and Pablo Castrillo, who performed well in Paris-Nice, while XDS-Astana continues its hunt for points with Clément Champoussin and Harold Tejada. Lorenzo Fortunato (also Astana), Luke Plapp (Jayco AlUla), and David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) are among the few riders who will combine Romandie with the Giro. At Visma | Lease a Bike, keep an eye on Jorgen Nordhagen and Cian Uijtdebroeks.
According to IDLProCycling.com, who are the favorites for the final classification of the Tour of Romandie?
Top favorites: Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) and Joao Almeida (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Outsiders: Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious), Aleksandr Vlasov (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Lennert Van Eetvelt (Lotto) and Oscar Onley (Picnic PostNL)
Long shots: Carlos Rodriguez, Laurens De Plus (INEOS Grenadiers), Jan Christen, Jay Vine (UAE Emirates-XRG), Luke Plapp (Jayco AlUla), Ivan Romeo, Pablo Castrillo (Movistar), David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ), Clément Champoussin and Harold Tejada (XDS-Astana)
Outsiders: Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious), Aleksandr Vlasov (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Lennert Van Eetvelt (Lotto) and Oscar Onley (Picnic PostNL)
Long shots: Carlos Rodriguez, Laurens De Plus (INEOS Grenadiers), Jan Christen, Jay Vine (UAE Emirates-XRG), Luke Plapp (Jayco AlUla), Ivan Romeo, Pablo Castrillo (Movistar), David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ), Clément Champoussin and Harold Tejada (XDS-Astana)
TV broadcast Tour of Romandie 2025
The Tour de Romandie will be broadcast daily on Eurosport, while HBO Max will provide live images online.
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Latest Comments
- Why continue to give this bully and liar a platform. Both he and Bruyneel should be persona non grata in the cycling world.Aodh25-04-2025
- Such negative comments that are truly inappropriate and actually ridiculous. He sounds like an old man, bitter that he can't race anymore. Why can't he just be gracious? Or just shut up. Instead of howling for attention, in such a rude manner. Must be Dementia creeping in. We are all living in the Now. Records are there, and some are being broken, some are unapproachable. If he doesn't like it, and it makes him sick, maybe he ought start watching some other sport. Don't want the old mans health to be upset.
reemmo031-03-2025 - Roger De Vlaeminck inspires me to create a new beer: "Bitter Old Twat Belgian".JackInhof31-03-2025
- Shoot, I'll ride it for 1/10 of what his pay for that day is😅Veganpotter30-03-2025
- What is this? The Lance Armstrong daily cheaters channel? I could care less about Johan and Lance the seven times cheater. Greg Lemond was right all along, Why don't you write about that instead of these two knuckleheads.velodrone28-03-2025
- Are we all doomed to hear from Lance Armstrong and Johan bruneel until the end of time? It's not enough the stain they left on cycling? Do we have to see that shadow forever?bigyakman26-03-2025
- I am not sure if it is the hardest to win. In Flanders and Roubaix well before the finish the Peleton will be decimated and the race will normally be won by the best rider of the day or maybe 2nd or 3rd in case of a mechanical or unlucky break especially in case of Roubaix. In San Remo just before the finish there will still be several riders in contention and they are hard to ditch. For the best riders it is a race hard to win since it is not so selective. But if you are not a top 5 rider but still a top 10 rider this race is your best change to win. You will see more Milan San remo Winners with only 1 monument win than any other monumentsJoostmehrtens19-03-2025
- "fap fap fap oh Lance oh oh OHHHHHHH" again. Does he pay you to dredge up people with nice things to say about him? He was an giant a$$hole to people. It is a fact. Whatever his contrition about the doping, he is unapologetic about being a giant a$$hole to people. (Why yes, I do only login to complain. *I* am however only a giant a$$hole to people who laud giant a$$holes.)ericjensenridesbikes25-02-2025
- Remco is still very young. And injuries can absolutely keep you from overdoing it and getting worse. The recent Remco accident didn't keep him from being able to ride a recumbent inside. Wout's knee is a different story thoughVeganpotter23-01-2025
- Van der Poel style is winning by a half a lap and leading the race from the end of the second lap.
Barnes127420-01-2025