The German professional cyclist Florian Lipowitz takes second place in the Tour de Romandie – only Tadej Pogacar is faster. Florian Lipowitz came into focus early in the season.
The finale of the Tour de Romandie in the French-speaking part of Switzerland was largely determined by Florian Lipowitz. The route led up to Leysin, a final climb in the first category of almost 13 kilometers in length. The 25-year-old Lipowitz was particularly active there and challenged Tadej Pogacar, the world champion in the yellow jersey, with his attacks.
The Slovenian cycling superstar is hyperactive on his bike, his class allows him to follow every attack and usually counter it. Part of this classic Pogacar calculation worked out on Sunday: calling. However, the counterattack failed to materialize because Lipowitz was able to counterattack Pogacar.
Florian Lipowitz: Not first place but satisfied
In the end, the German classification driver Lipowitz was once again unable to win the day in the final sprint. After almost 180 kilometers over undulating terrain, he came second in the stage behind Pogacar and also finished the entire six-day tour in the same position. It was Lipowitz’s third podium finish in his fourth stage race this spring, underlining his class. His peak performance is actually scheduled for the Tour de France in July.
Lipowitz was correspondingly satisfied, wrapped up in a warm jacket and with a hat on his head during the interview behind the finish line: “I’m super happy with second place.” Pogacar was also impressed by the advances that Lipowitz had risked: “When he attacked the second time on the final climb, that was very impressive.” Lipowitz briefly had hope that something was still possible for him: “Tadej was at his limit.” But he didn’t let himself be left behind
Lipowitz and Evenepoel roll up
Lipowitz started this season with success, which he achieved in a team time trial together with the Belgian Red Bull newcomer Remco Evenepoel in Mallorca at the end of January. The subsequent tour of the Algarve in February was not originally on Lipowitz’s schedule. Nevertheless, he took part in it in order to roll in the first stage kilometers of the year early in the year – he ultimately came eighth in the overall ranking. What was more important for him, however, was the first joint trip on a tour with Evenepoel at the end of March on the difficult Tour of Catalonia.
Remco Evenepoel (l.) and Florian Lipowitz together on the tour of Catalonia
There Lipowitz met Jonas Vingegaard, one of the big favorites for overall victory on the Tour. The Dane dominated the race with two daily successes and the overall victory, but Lipowitz held on for a long time in the mountains, dominated the Evenepoel climbs and took third place in the final classification. He wasn’t in top shape at all because he had previously had to end a high-altitude training camp early due to an infection.
Paul Seixas drives away from Lipowitz
Because things were going so well, his team also registered Lipowitz for the mountainous Basque Country tour at the beginning of April. Lipowitz drove well, but had no chance against Paul Seixas, a Frenchman who was ultimately much better and was only 19 years old. Nevertheless, it was enough for second place and another podium finish in the final standings. The Romandy tour finally followed at the end of April and beginning of May. Once again only one rider was better than Lipowitz, Pogacar won four of the five stages. The insatiable Pogacar’s record this year is: eleven starts, nine wins. Nevertheless, Pogacar, including all bonuses, only distanced himself from his German competitor by 42 seconds after 20 hours of racing.
Make an impression on the best drivers
Florian Lipowitz on the last stage of the Tour de Romandie
Lipowitz has already asserted himself strongly against his potentially biggest tour competitors this year: but Vingegaard and Seixas were still clearly superior to him. And Pogacar also confidently controlled the peloton. But especially the attack on the way up to Leysin in western Switzerland should give Lipowitz a lot of confidence to work on his form. He said: “I wanted to try something myself on the last mountain. I was surprised that Tadej didn’t attack again.” In the finish sprint he tried to “do my best. Tadej won fairly.” This result “definitely gives me confidence for the Tour. We are on the right track.”
High expectations due to a rapid rise
In the 2025 Tour, Lipowitz took third place with courageous riding and outstanding performances in the Pyrenees and the Alps. He felt a little uneasy afterwards because he knew that he had created great expectations with this result. “I try to ignore that as much as possible,” said Lipowitz in an interview with “Sportschau” during the team training camp in December. And: “If I can build on my achievements from 2025, I will be more than happy. It is not easy to confirm your performance after such a rise.” On the other hand, he puts pressure on himself, “because I want to deliver again in 2026.” For example, a podium finish at the Tour. After his missions so far this year, Lipowitz now sums up: “I have taken a step forward compared to last year.”
Paul Seixas and the Tour de France
With Seixas, who announced his tour start in summer 2026 on Monday, a contender for one of the top three tour places has been added alongside Pogacar and Vingegaard. Seixas said: “I’m aiming for the best possible position in the overall class.” He pursues ambitious goals. Finally, he emphasized that the main reason he took part in races was “to win them”.
Paul Seixas on the rear wheel of Tadej Pogacar (r.) at Liège-Bastogne-Liège
With the tour, Seixas is doing his first three-week tour. It remains to be seen how he copes with these hardships and how he copes with the huge expectations of his compatriots, who trust him to achieve the first Tour victory by a Frenchman since 1985. At that time, Bernard Hinault won the Tour of France for the fifth time. One thing is clear: the final week of the tour will be a climbing spectacle in the Alps. Lipowitz mastered the long and steep climbs exceptionally well a year ago.
What the Swabian Lipowitz is now missing is a one-day victory in a World Tour race. So far he has achieved three victories, albeit in races in a subcategory of the top class. In French-speaking Switzerland he was very close, at least on Sunday. Lipowitz will contest his next race in the Tour of Slovenia. From June 17th to 21st, it runs over five stages through the mountains of the Slovenian Alps. Lipowitz is favored there because Pogacar, Vingegaard and Seixas have other plans.
Preparation for the most important race of the season
Lipowitz – like Pogacar – is visiting some stages of the tour this week. He then goes to a high-altitude training camp and appears again on a start list in Slovenia. The Tour de France begins on July 4th with a team time trial in Barcelona.
