Jan Tratnik explains low-key prologue effort at Tour de Romandie

The Slovenian rider for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe finished 101st, more than a minute behind stage winner Dorian Godon, who clocked 3:35. The Frenchman from Ineos Grenadiers edged Tadej Pogačar by a few seconds for one of the standout wins of his career. Only Patrick Gamper and Asbjørn Hellemose of Team Jayco AlUla posted slower times than Jan Tratnik.

He averaged just over 40 kmh on a course where the fastest riders were pushing closer to 55, and he rode a standard road bike rather than a time trial setup. From the start, it was clear this was about getting through the stage.

Tratnik explained things later on Instagram. He had been dealing with sharp lower back pain in the build up and was unsure if he would even start. As he put it: “Luckily I could at least ride a bike. Sharp pain in my lower back isn’t the most welcome thing to have before start of stage race. But we don’t give up, let’s go day by day 😎”.

Last Sunday, Tratnik finished 88th at Liège–Bastogne–Liège, more than 16 minutes behind winner Tadej Pogačar. 

At the Tour de Romandie, the Slovenian is riding in support of team leaders Florian Lipowitz and Primož Roglič, who will try to keep Pogačar from adding the race, one of the few still missing from his palmarès.