Clément Berthet holding his own in Romandie
# Clément Berthet Thrives in Tour de Romandie: Aiming for Top Contention
After three challenging days on the picturesque roads of Switzerland, Clément Berthet is proving his mettle in the Tour de Romandie. The French cyclist has positioned himself strongly among the favorites, currently sitting in eleventh place as the competition intensifies heading into a demanding weekend.
The Tour de Romandie kicked off traditionally with a prologue on Tuesday in Villars-sur-Glâne, where racers navigated a brief but technical route of 3,200 meters. Dorian Godon clinched the victory with a time of 3:35. “The course was quite straightforward,” said Maxime Latourte. “There were two technical corners, a flat start, a slight downhill, and then a short climb to finish. It suited a punchy sprinter’s effort.” Although the team didn’t have the ideal conditions to compete for the win, they showed depth with Maxime Decomble (13th), Lorenzo Germani (16th), and Rémi Cavagna (17th) all finishing in the top 20, despite facing timing challenges. Conversely, David Gaudu struggled with a puncture that hampered his performance on the course.
Entering the first road stage, the competition remained tight, with a pivotal selection anticipated around Martigny on Wednesday. Following three laps that included the challenging climb of La Rasse (2.5 km at 8.5%), the peloton approached the Ovronnaz ascent (9 km at 10%). As anticipated, Tadej Pogačar launched a decisive attack during the main climb, leading to a four-rider breakaway. Clément Berthet showcased his skills, bridging to a chasing group after a skillful descent. “It was a real hard climb, and we got a first indication of everyone’s condition,” remarked team director Thierry Bricaud. “It set the tone for what’s to come, and it was encouraging.” Berthet finished twelfth, just 21 seconds adrift of the leading group.
Thursday’s second stage featured a grueling pace, driven by a strong breakaway from Ineos Grenadiers and UAE Team Emirates. On the final ascent up Vuillens (3 km at 5.5%), thirty-two riders managed to distance themselves from the peloton. Tadej Pogačar took victory in a reduced sprint as Clément Berthet crossed the line in 13th place, alongside teammates Rémy Rochas (14th) and Josh Kench (27th). “We’re in the mix, with a solid Clément who’s starting his season well,” added Thierry Bricaud. “A big weekend lies ahead. We need to keep targeting the top 10, and that will allow Clément to move forward with confidence. There will likely also be a stage to go for on Friday or Saturday, and we’ll need to be opportunistic.”
As the Tour de Romandie progresses, Clément Berthet holds an eleventh-place standing overall, trailing the leader by 57 seconds and just 16 seconds off the fifth. All eyes are now on the upcoming stages, where strategic positioning could prove crucial.
