Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
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Current racing:
- April 26 - May 3: Tour of Turkey
- April 28 - May 3: Tour de Romandie
Upcoming racing:
- May 1: Eschborn-Frankfurt
- May 8 - 31: Giro d'Italia
Latest completed racing:
- April 26: Giro dell'Appennino
- April 23 - 26: Vuelta Asturias
- April 26: Liège-Bastogne-Liège
- April 20 - 24: Tour of the Alps
- April 22: La Flèche Wallonne
- April 19: Amstel Gold Race
- April 15 - 19: Tour of Hainan
- April 14 - 18: O Gran Camiño
- April 17: De Brabantse Pijl
- April 19:
Tour du Doubsrace cancelled - April 12: Paris-Roubaix
- April 6 - 11: Itzulia Basque Country (Tour of the Basque Country)
- April 7 - 10: Région Pays de la Loire Tour
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We posted the report from winner Dorian Godon's Team INEOS Grenadiers with the results.
Here's the Tour de Romandie report from third-place Ivo Oliveira's UAE Team Emirates-XRG:
UAE Team Emirates-XRG made a positive start to the 2026 Tour de Romandie, with both Ivo Oliveira and Tadej Pogačar placing inside the top 10 in the opening prologue.
Oliveira was the first off the ramp for the Emirati squad in the French-speaking region of Switzerland, and the Portuguese specialist quickly went into the hot seat. Unfortunately, his time would later be bettered by Jakob Söderqvist (Lidl-Trek) and Dorian Godon (Ineos Grenadiers), with the latter taking the stage victory.
Ivo Oliveira on his way to third place. Sirotti photo
Nevertheless, Oliveira’s average speed of over 52km/h along the 3.2km-long course was enough to see him finish in third place. That performance was followed suit by Oliveira’s teammate, Pogačar, who stopped the clock in three minutes and 42 seconds, just two days on from winning Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
As the last rider off the starting ramp, Pogačar crossed the line in sixth place, setting the world champion up nicely for a tilt at the general classification. This week is, of course, the Slovenian’s debut outing at the Tour de Romandie, with the 27-year-old hoping to claim the title won by his UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammate João Almeida last season.
Reflecting on his short but intense time in the saddle, Oliveira spoke of his happiness in competing for the win so soon after his Volta a Catalunya crash.
Oliveira: “I am happy with the result. I was expecting to do well because I like these kind of prologues. But considering after Catalunya I had a crash and a fracture in the foot, this put me out of training for 12 days, I never thought that I would be at the start line in Romandie. So to be here and also be in the fight for the win is pretty special.
“I had a really good recovery with the team, they supported me a lot so it means a lot just to be here. I am happy, obviously I wanted to win, but nevertheless I am happy I could win and fight for the win, considering my bad luck in the last four weeks.”
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Here’s the Tour of Romandie report from fifth-place Axel Zingle’s Team Visma | Lease a Bike:
Zingle rushes to fifth place in the opening prologue of the Tour de Romandie
Team Visma | Lease a Bike kicked off the Tour de Romandie with a strong performance from Axel Zingle in the opening prologue. The 27-year-old Frenchman secured fifth place on the 3.2-kilometre course in Villars-sur-Glâne.
The Swiss stage race kicked off today with a short but gruelling prologue in Villars-sur-Glâne. During an explosive time trial of just 3.2 kilometres, the riders were immediately put to the test. Zingle was clearly in his element on the punchy course and set a strong time.
A determined-looking Axel Zingle on his way to fifth place. Sirotti photo
With a time of three minutes and 42 seconds, Zingle finished in an impressive fifth place. "It was a good day for us; we certainly can’t complain", sports director Gaëtan Pons said. "It’s a nice surprise that Axel has secured fifth place here. This performance provides extra motivation within the team, which is great to see."
For Team Visma | Lease a Bike, this prologue marks a promising start to the week. With Jørgen Nordhagen, the team is aiming for a good general classification and intends to race aggressively. "The time gaps remained minimal today, so anything is still possible in the general classification. We’re already looking forward to getting started on the climbs", said Pons.
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And here's the Tour de Romandie report from Louis Vervaeke's Team Soudal Quick-Step:
The last World Tour race of the month, the Tour de Romandie got underway Tuesday afternoon with a short and undulating prologue held on the streets of Villars-sur-Glâne, over just 3.2 kilometers.
Soudal Quick-Step came to the start of the Swiss race with a strong and experienced team, ready to grab any opportunity that may come this week. In the time trial, Louis Vervaeke was our fastest rider; the Belgian stopped the clock in 3:54, which made him the squad’s best placed rider on the general classification, led by Dorian Godon (Ineos Grenadiers).
Louis Vervaeke racing in the 2025 Vuelta a España. Sirotti photo
Going into the first stage, things are tight in the overall standings, but everything can change in Martigny, and that’s because the peloton will face the daunting Ovronnaz climb. Averaging 9.8% over 8.9 kilometers, this ascent is expected to widen the gaps between the riders, despite being crested with 35 kilometers to go. After a fast descent, only 20 kilometers remain until the finish, making it difficult for those dropped to come back and fight for victory in the city lying in the beautiful Rhône valley.