Frenchman Dorian Godon stunned the favorites on Tuesday by winning the prologue of the Tour de Romandie, covering the 3.2-kilometer timed course in Villars-sur-Glâne, Switzerland, in 3 minutes, 35.12 seconds. The 29-year-old national champion beat pre-race favorite Tadej Pogacar by seven seconds, clocking the fastest time among a strong field.
Godon’s performance was six seconds quicker than Portuguese rider Ivo Oliveira and Swede Jakob Söderqvist, who finished second and third respectively. It marked the 20th professional victory for the Frenchman, who resides in Spain, and his sixth World Tour win, adding to stage successes in Paris-Nice and the Volta a Catalunya.
Pogacar, fresh off his fourth Liège-Bastogne-Liège victory on Sunday—his fourth win in five races this season—could only manage the fifth-fastest time. The Slovenian star will have a chance to make his mark on Wednesday during the 171-kilometer stage through Martigny in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, where the demanding climb of Ovronnaz (8.9 km at 9.8%) offers an early opportunity to shake up the overall standings.
Key players: Dorian Godon, Tadej Pogacar, Tour de Romandie