Slovenian cycling superstar clinches his first Tour de Romandie title

There are few major road races that Slovenian cycling star Tadej Pogačar has not won yet, and the list just got shorter after he clinched his first Tour de Romandie title, capping a commanding week with victory on the final mountain stage.

The 27-year-old UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider has become the third Slovenian to win the race across the French-speaking part of Switzerland Primož Roglič (2018 and 2019), and Simon Špilak (2010), CE Report quotes The Slovenia Times.

The reigning world champion in the men's road race won four of the five stages of the 79th edition of the Tour de Romandie, with the only other stage winner being Dorian Godon of France, who dominated in stage 3 and the initial time trial.

In the final, 178-kilometre stage from Lucens to Leysin, Pogačar did not display a particular desire to go for a new stage victory, but he closely pursued his rivals, who made several attempts to get rid of him on the toughest part of the final climb.

German Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), who was 35 seconds behind Pogačar in the general classification, was particularly active in this respect, but could not shake the Slovenian off, and Pogačar then passed him a few hundred metres before the finish line for another stage win.

In the general classification, Pogačar finished 42 seconds ahead of Lipowitz. Third place went to Lenny Martinez of France (Bahrain-Victorious), who was 2 minutes and 44 seconds slower than the Slovenian.

Pogačar described the final stage as a "tough day", but noted the support he had along the roads throughout the week, saying it was "amazing."

"The fans were really nice. A lot of signs with my name, so it was a pleasure to ride this week in Romandie," he said.

This is win No. 117 for Pogačar, and his fifth race win this year, following Strade Bianche, Milano-Sanremo, the Tour of Flanders and Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

Photo: UAE Team Emirates X account