Favorites for stage 3 in the Tour of Romandie | New time trial test, but this time among the big guns

A second time trial in four days, but this time more than just a sprint to the line. After the prologue on day one, the riders in the Tour of Romandie will don their time trial suits again for a new race against the clock on day four. In the third stage (the prologue was so short that it didn’t count as a stage), we expect the specialists and general classification riders, ready to make a difference once again. IDLProCycling.com tells you everything you need to know.

Stage 3, Friday, April 26: Oron – Oron (15.5 km, individual time trial)

It’s still not very long, but 15.5 kilometers and up and down from start to finish… This is definitely one to brace for! Starting and finishing in Oron, the route starts with an ascent, with 1.8 kilometers at 6.5 percent to begin with. After that, it levels off towards the time check, before it continues rolling back to Oron.

An interesting time trial, especially considering its technical nature. The riders start with a challenging uphill slalom, ending in a U-turn. Afterwards, they can shift to a higher gear for a longer stretch, essentially until Saint-Martin. Heading towards the first time check involves some steering, but in the second part, the riders can really tap into their power.

Times

Start first rider: 2:10 PM

Finish last rider: around 5:34 PM

Weather for Stage 3 in the Tour of Romandie 2024

There’s no flexibility with start times; following the mountain stage on day three, everyone will set off according to the general classification standings. This timing could significantly influence the day’s results. At the start time of 2:10 PM, conditions are expected to be dry, with the southwest wind not yet reaching its peak intensity that might occur later in the day. Typically, the top contenders face similar weather conditions, which could include rain and a moderate southwest wind.

Favorites for stage 3 in the Tour of Romandie

There’s a lot of talent at the start of the time trial, a high-caliber race against the clock! UAE-Team Emirates has two serious candidates for stage victory with Juan Ayuso and Brandon McNulty. All the riders from the Emirates team are excelling on the time trial bikes this year, with Ayuso already having won one in the Tirreno-Adriatico earlier this year.

The same is true at INEOS Grenadiers. Magnus Sheffield and Ethan Hayter are notable names for a time trial, and we are also curious to see how Thymen Arensman will do leading up to the Giro d’Italia. Jayco-AlUla has a time trial specialist in Luke Plapp, and for Movistar, it’s Rémi Cavagna.

Outsiders? Ilan Van Wilder from Soudal-Quick Step consistently performs well in time trials but has rarely been close to winning. The same goes for Rune Herregodts (Intermarché-Wanty). Lastly, there’s Simon Yates, also from Jayco-AlUla. The Brit can pull off a winning time trial on a good day, but does he have the legs for it right now?

Juan Ayuso

According to IDLProCycling.com, who are the favorites for the second stage of the Tour de Romandie?

Top favorites: Juan Ayuso ( UAE Team Emirates) and Magnus Sheffield (INEOS Grenadiers)

Outsiders: Brandon McNulty (UAE-Team Emirates), Ethan Hayter (INEOS Grenadiers) and Luke Plapp (Jayco-AlUla)

Long shots: Thymen Arensman (INEOS Grenadiers), Simon Yates (Jayco-AlUla), Rémi Cavagna (Movistar), Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal-Quick Step) and Rune Herregodts (Intermarché-Wanty)