Supreme Pogacar extends GC control with queen stage victory in Romandie

Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) claimed his third victory of the 2026 Tour de Romandie on stage 4, the queen stage of the race. 

The World Champion rode the competition off his wheel on the final climb of the stage, the Juanpass, with 20km remaining. Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-BORA-Hansgrohe) was initially able to hold the wheel of Pogačar before being distanced with 18km remaining. 

Navigating a high-speed descent, Pogačar maintained his advantage in the final 5km on valley roads as Lipowitz battled valiantly behind. 

In the end, Pogačar had enough in reserve to seal the stage victory in Charmey 0:14 ahead of Lipowitz in 2nd, while Pablo Castrillo (Movistar) took 3rd at 1:42 after a late opportunistic attack from the chasing group.

Pogačar has extended his lead in the GC over Lipowitz to 0:35.

After the start in Broc, a six-rider breakaway formed, which most notably featured 2018 and 2019 Tour de Romandie winner Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe). Along with Roglič were the Soudal Quick-Step duo of Valentin Paret-Peintre and Louis Vervaeke (Soudal Quick-Step), Maxime Decomble (Groupama-FDJ), Michael Leonard (EF Education-EasyPost), and Roland Thalmann (Tudor). 

UAE Team Emirates-XRG took charge of the tempo setting in the peloton, keeping the breakaway under control. Decomble and Thalmann were distanced from their breakaway companions on the Saanenmöser Pass with little over 40km remaining.

Onto the final ascent of the Juanpass inside 30km to go, and it was Paret-Peintre and Roglič who pushed on in front. Behind, UAE continued to dictate the pace, setting up the inevitable attack from Pogačar.

The World Champion launched a seated acceleration with 20km remaining, with Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious) the first rider to latch on the wheel, with Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and Jørgen Nordhagen (Visma | Lease a Bike) just a few bike lengths behind. 

Things quickly changed as Martinez had to let the wheel of Pogačar go, and Lipowitz powered his way across to the World Champion. Lipowitz held on to Pogačar's wheel for a while but had to relent with 18km to go, as the pace increased once more. 

Pogačar was in control at the summit with Lipowitz solo. Meanwhile, Nordhagen and Martinez were caught by a selective chase group that included Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos Grenadiers).

On the descent of the Juanpass, Rodríguez suffered a high-speed crash, but thankfully, the Spanish rider was quickly able to get to his feet and remount, though with visible damage.

The final 5km saw Pogačar time-trial his way to the finish, knowing that Lipowitz was still too close for comfort to ease up.

Meanwhile, the chasing group started playing games on the valley roads, with Pablo Castrillo (Movistar) and Lorenzo Fortunato (XDS Astana) taking advantage and attacking to take third and fourth.