Race leader picks up his second victory in as many days for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, with the Slovenian winning a reduced bunch sprint in Vucherens
Thursday 30 April, 2026
Tadej Pogačar made it two wins in two days for UAE Team Emirates-XRG at the Tour de Romandie, with the race leader picking the spoils from a reduced bunch sprint on stage 2.
It was a remarkable victory from the world champion, who reminded everybody just how fast his acceleration can be at the finish line. In winning from a 32-man front group, Pogačar extended his lead in the yellow jersey by 10 bonus seconds, and doubled up on his success from stage 1.
Thursday’s victory was no straightforward task for Pogačar, who was attacked on multiple fronts on the final climb of the day. Seeing one attack after another go off the front of the reduced peloton, the yellow jersey sought to defend his lead and extinguished each one. This was after his UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammates had done a fine job of placing their leader towards the front at the bottom of the 3.1km-long ascent to Vuillens.
With the attacks closed down, it was Pogačar who drove the pace over the top of the climb, in an effort to dissuade any further moves. As the group barrelled down to the finish in Vucherens, it was natural to assume the likes of Dorian Godon (Ineos Grenadiers), the prologue winner, would battle it out for the day’s honours.
However, fancying his chances once more, Pogačar waited until the last moment in the 32-man sprint to make his move. Darting over the right-hand shoulder of Godon, the race leader ultimately won by more than a wheel, and picked up his second win in as many days.
Behind Pogačar, Godon continued his good run of form to take second place, whilst third went to former UAE Team Emirates rider, Finn Fisher-Black (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe).
Pogačar: “We knew the final lap, because we did it three times, and I knew the sprint was going to be tough because of the climbs before. It was indeed a super fast climb with a tailwind, but then for the sprint it was a super headwind, and quite downhill. So I knew you couldn’t be too much in front, but I was for the last corner, I was too much in front. Then suddenly some guys came, they were too early, and it was advantage for me.
“To make the difference in time gaps, the final climb was not tough enough. But it made a difference in the legs, if you go over the limit then for sure it is harder to do a good sprint. Luckily for me it was still all under control and I could do a good sprint for me.
Tour de Romandie 2026 stage 2 results:
- Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 4:08:11
- Dorian Godon (Ineos Grenadiers) s.t
- Finn Fisher-Black (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) s.t
Tour de Romandie 2026 general classification after stage 2:
- Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 8:08:28
- Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) +17”
- Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) +26”
