Bahrain Victorious heads to the Tour de Romandie with a balanced and ambitious line-up, targeting the general classification in one of the final key stage races ahead of the Grand Tours.

The team will be led 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-Glâne, offering only minimal gaps but an early opportunity for positioning in the general classification. From there, the route builds progressively in difficulty. Stage 1 around Martigny introduces the first major test with the steep ascent to Ovronnaz (8.7km at 10%), a climb capable of creating early GC separation. Stages 2 and 3 are more deceptive, featuring relentless rolling terrain and repeated circuits that can accumulate fatigue and open the door for opportunistic moves. While not decisive on paper, these stages often shape the race through positioning and team control. The race then shifts into the mountains. Stage 4 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, Lenny Martinez delivered an outstanding performance, finishing second overall after wearing the leader’s jersey during the race. That result underlines 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, Antonio 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 Damiano Caruso adds proven stage race depth and tactical experience, while Attila 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. Bahrain Victorious lines up ready to take on that challenge.

Roman Kreuziger, Sports Director:

“We’re ready for the prologue and five exciting stages. 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 1 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 general classification. We’ll see how Lenny and Antonio want to approach it. Stages 2 and 3 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 4 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.

Looking at the competition, it’s a very strong field. Tadej Pogačar is here, alongside a powerful Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe line-up with Primož Roglič, Florian Lipowitz and Daniel Felipe Martínez. INEOS Grenadiers also come with strong ambitions, including Oscar Onley, so it will be a very competitive race. With only 15 teams at the start, the peloton will be smaller than usual, which can also influence how the race develops.

From our side, we decided not to race Lenny Martinez at Liège – Bastogne – Liège to allow him to recover fully, as Romandie is one of his main targets. He will share leadership with Antonio Tiberi, and we expect a strong performance from both. Damiano Caruso will be our road captain. He comes from a solid training camp and is well prepared to guide the team through the race. In support, Kamil Gradek, Robert Stannard, Attila Valter and Vlad Van Mechelen all have clear roles, to support the leaders and deliver them in the key moments. Robert has recovered well after his injury at Paris-Nice, Kamil comes in with good condition after Paris-Roubaix, and Attila will play an important role in the climbs. Vlad will support the team throughout the week and could have opportunities on the non-GC stages.”