![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2026_12_0.webp.webp\")
<\/a><\/p>\nStage 1 around Martigny brings the first real selection. There\u2019s the steep Ovronnaz likely to split the field long before the finish.<\/p>\n
Day three to Vucherens doesn\u2019t scream super tough on paper, but its relentless up-and-down terrain and late kicker could catch out anyone off their rhythm. Guys going for the GC will need to pay attention. Stage 3 in Orbe mixes rolling terrain with the Col du Mollendruz, a climb that invites moves from riders willing to take a risk before the weekend.<\/p>\n Then comes the breaker: three times up the very ouchy Jaunpass on Stage 4. It\u2019s a day built to crack legs and reshape the overall picture.<\/p>\n Everything should come down to the last day and final climb to Leysin, a steady drag where the strongest climbers will have nowhere left to hide. Look for Pogi to do what he does\u2013and go nuclear (if he hasn\u2019t already by that point.)<\/p>\n With no Jonas Vingegaard, Poga\u010dar (obviously) starts as the clear favourite, especially after he trounced everyone at Li\u00e8ge-Bastogne-Li\u00e8ge<\/a>, despite a remarkable ride from French teenager Paul Seixas who held onto Pogi\u2019s wheel on the final big climb. Top names like Primo\u017e Rogli\u010d and Lenny Martinez could still force a fight, but who knows anymore.<\/p>\n Leonard to race his first Romandie<\/p>\n There is one Canadian racing. Like Pogi and the others who did LBL, he had an easy day on Monday. Michael Leonard (EF Education-EasyPost) will be there. He has a good shot in the prologue, the national TT champ already has a similar win in the bag from the 2024 Tour de l\u2019Avenir. This prologue has that kicker at the end, but he still excels in these short, sharp timed efforts.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n