As the Ronde van Romandie unfolds, all eyes are on Remco Evenepoel, who faces a challenging first road stage on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Following a promising prologue, the Soudal-Quick Step leader aims to make an immediate impact while being cautious about the risks involved.
Evenepoel started his first stage race of the season with an eighth-place finish in the prologue, where he managed to gain some valuable seconds over his rivals. “I’m quite satisfied,” he said ahead of the first road stage. “The prologue wasn’t really my favorite, but everything went pretty well.” He added, “On the sections where I could, I pushed hard, and I didn’t take too many crazy risks. I also gained a few seconds on most of the general classification contenders, so it was a successful prologue.”
Among those contenders is João Almeida, whom Evenepoel identified as the top favorite in the race. “That’s true, but it’s only one second. That won’t make a difference this week. However, I felt good recovering from the effort, which is a good sign,” he remarked.
Wednesday’s stage is set to be a demanding one, with climbs like Mont-Crosin (2.3 km at 7.2%), Col de Pontins (4.5 km at 7.6%), and the tough ascent to Chaumont (3 km at 11.9%). The summit of Chaumont is located 80 kilometers from the finish line, making it unlikely that significant damage will be inflicted on the peloton during that climb. However, the final kilometers in Fribourg are expected to be challenging, with slopes of 6 to 7% that could favor the punchers.
Evenepoel’s teammate Lennert Van Eetvelt suggested that the Belgian star would want to take the initiative in the race. “Is that so? We didn’t even discuss that this morning,” Evenepoel laughed, referring to the strategy. “We have Casper Pedersen with us, who can sprint well. There are also guys here who can present even better credentials. So, the initiative won’t come from us.”
He continued, “The approach to the final kilometers will be important, a bit like the approach to La Redoute in Liège. Hopefully, we do better than last Sunday.” Evenepoel emphasized the need to stay well-grouped and neutralize late attacks, especially since there are bonus seconds available for the top finishers. “If there are attacks, I’ll have to go along, but we won’t take too many big risks.”
After a tumultuous few days, Evenepoel is eager to focus on the race and leave behind the recent controversies, including a disappointing result at Liège and a spat with Sporza presenter Ruben Van Gucht. “I think my stance was clear,” Evenepoel reflected on the incident. “He sent me an audio message, but without an apology, which was a bit strange. But we’ll see what comes of it. My position and that of my family is clear. Now everyone should just move on with their own thing, and hopefully, it won’t get too much attention.”
He admitted, “It did weigh on my mind a bit that evening. But after a conversation with Klaas (Lodewyck, team leader), I was able to put it aside quickly.”
As the race continues, the weather in Switzerland is expected to be mild and dry, with temperatures reaching up to 21 degrees Celsius. This favorable weather will accompany the riders as they tackle the demanding terrain of the first stage.
While Evenepoel is a strong contender, he faces stiff competition. Samuel Watson of INEOS Grenadiers, who won the prologue, will be riding with confidence. Other potential contenders include Andrea Vendrame (Decathlon AG2R), Pavel Bittner (Picnic PostNL), and local favorites Jan Christen (UAE Team Emirates - XRG) and Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ).
In addition to Evenepoel, Carlos Rodríguez, the defending champion, will be looking to reclaim his title after recovering from a collarbone injury sustained earlier in the season. The race is not only a test for him but also for other strong riders like Aleksandr Vlasov, who won the event in 2022 and is keen to make his mark again.
As the stage begins at 12:45 PM and is set to finish between 5:15 PM and 5:35 PM, fans are eager to see how the race unfolds. The unpredictable nature of the terrain and the strategic maneuvers in the peloton promise an exciting day of racing.
With the Ronde van Romandie serving as a crucial preparation for the upcoming Giro d’Italia, riders will be keen to establish their form and make a statement. As Evenepoel and his rivals gear up for the first road stage, the excitement builds for what is sure to be a thrilling contest.
As the riders take to the roads of Switzerland, the question remains: can Evenepoel shake off the recent controversies and deliver a performance that puts him back in the spotlight? The stage is set, and the race is on!
