CYCLING – TEAM Bahrain Victorious head to the Tour de Romandie with a balanced and ambitious line-up, targeting the general classification (GC) in one of the final key stage races ahead of the Grand Tours.
The team will be led starting today by Antonio Tiberi and Lenny Martinez, supported by experienced climbers and versatile support in Damiano Caruso, Attila Valter, Robert Stannard, Kamil Gradek, and Vlad Van Mechelen.
This year’s edition presents a demanding, climber-oriented parcours across six stages in western Switzerland, with over 850 kilometres of racing and more than 14,000 metres of elevation gain. Unlike previous editions, there is no decisive long time trial, placing greater emphasis on climbing consistency and aggressive racing across the week.
The race opens with a short 3.2km prologue in Villars-sur-Glane, offering only minimal gaps but an early opportunity for positioning in the GC.
From there, the route builds progressively in difficulty. Stage one around Martigny introduces the first major test with the steep ascent to Ovronnaz (8.7km at 10 per cent), a climb capable of creating early GC separation. Stages two and three are more deceptive, featuring relentless rolling terrain and repeated circuits that can accumulate fatigue and open the door for opportunistic moves.
The race then shifts into the mountains. Stage four to Charmey, featuring multiple ascents including the Jaunpass, marks the first true climbing showdown, before the final stage delivers the key GC battleground. The decisive moment is expected on the summit finish to Leysin, where a long and demanding climb, over 10km at sustained gradients, will determine the overall winner in the absence of a closing time trial.
Bahrain Victorious arrives with strong credentials in Romandie. In 2025, Martinez delivered an outstanding performance, finishing second overall after wearing the leader’s jersey during the race.
That result underlined both the team’s familiarity with the race and Martinez’s suitability to this terrain – short, punchy climbs combined with high-altitude finishes.
Alongside him, Tiberi continues to establish himself as one of the most promising young GC riders in the peloton, particularly in week-long stage races of this profile.
The presence of Caruso adds proven stage-race depth and tactical experience, while Valter brings climbing strength suited to the repeated ascents and high mountain stages.
With minimal time trial kilometres and a route built around repeated climbing efforts, the 2026 edition is expected to favour aggressive climbers and well-structured teams capable of controlling complex stages.
“We’re ready for the prologue and five exciting stages,” said Bahrain Victorious sports director Roman Kreuziger. “The race starts with a short and intense effort, where the key will be to limit any time loss for the GC riders and position ourselves well from the beginning.
“Stage one already brings an important test. It’s a rolling stage with several laps around the finish, featuring a steep and demanding climb, so it’s definitely one for the GC. We’ll see how Lenny and Antonio want to approach it.
“Stages two and three could offer opportunities for the breakaway, depending on how the peloton controls the race. These are the kind of days where positioning and race dynamics will be crucial.
“Stage four is, in my view, the queen stage. It starts with two very intense climbs and includes another key ascent closer to the finish. This is where we can expect significant GC differences.
“The final stage is also demanding, with rolling terrain leading into a long, steady climb to the finish. It’s another opportunity for the GC to change.”
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