Tadej Pogacar's clear message: "I want to win every race"

When the four-time Tour de France winner stepped in front of the waiting journalists on Monday with a calm stride and unmoved expression, his mere presence underlined his great ambition. "I want to win every race I take part in," the big favorite of this 79th edition emphasized right at the start. "The course is demanding, with only one time trial on Tuesday (prologue in Villars-sur-Glâne - ed.), but it suits me."

A painful memory

The Slovenian had already been on the road in Vaud in 2015, at the Tour du Pays de Vaud - an experience that literally left its mark. "I still have a scar from a crash from that time," he recalled with a slight smile.

For his first stage race of the 2026 season, Pogacar is primarily looking to determine where he stands with a view to his fifth triumph on the Champs-Élysées in July. "I can't stay at home all year and only compete in the Tour de France. I need races to test myself," explained the world champion of the last two years.

On Sunday, just 48 hours before the start of the Tour de Romandie, Pogacar triumphed in the Ardennes classic Liège-Bastogne-Liège. With his fourth victory at "La Doyenne", he confirmed his outstanding form. On the Côte de La Redoute, he pushed the pace to such an extent that he reached an average speed of 25 km/h, despite climbs of up to 22 percent. He now wants to put this explosiveness to good use on the roads of western Switzerland.

No worries about his weight

After an impressive classics campaign with four victories in just five starts, Pogacar is now turning his focus to the Tour de France. The Tour de Romandie serves as an important milestone in his preparation. "I want to get back into the rhythm of one-week tours here, refine my coordination with my teammates and see if the training is bearing fruit for the summer," explained the 27-year-old, who has already collected 21 stage wins at the Tour of France.

Even if hardly anyone expects Pogacar to show any weaknesses in the six stages, there is one unknown: For his triumph at Paris-Roubaix, the captain of the UAE Emirates team had to specifically add mass in order to have the necessary stability and strength on the notorious cobblestones.

However, this extra weight - normally a handicap in mountainous stage races - does not cause him any sleepless nights: "If I had two kilos too much fat, I would be worried. But the one or two kilos of extra muscle mass won't slow me down in the coming week."

Relaxed and in the role of the usual hunted, Pogacar is now striving for his next triumph in Switzerland two years after his World Championship title in Zurich.