Can anyone beat Tadej Pogačar? - Tour de Romandie prologue start times and order

Tadej Pogačar, the formidable leader of UAE Team Emirates, is poised to be the final rider off the ramp for the 3.2-kilometre prologue of the Tour de Romandie. Starting at 17:27 local time, the Slovenian superstar will tackle the short, sharp opening effort, aiming to set an immediate benchmark against a field eager to challenge his recent dominance. This strategic start position underscores his status as the race's undisputed favourite.

This late start is a classic move for a pre-race favourite, allowing Pogačar to gauge conditions and times set by his rivals, though the short distance of this particular prologue limits its tactical advantage. His recent, almost unchallenged victory at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, coupled with a dominant Giro d'Italia preparation, has cemented his reputation as virtually unbeatable. Romandie serves as a crucial final tune-up before the Giro, making his performance here a significant indicator of his form and intentions for the first Grand Tour of the season.

While the question "Can anyone beat Pogačar?" remains rhetorical for many, Romandie offers a rare chance for his rivals to at least offer a polite suggestion otherwise. The peloton, however, has seen this movie before.