The 2025 Tour de Romandie got underway on Tuesday, 29 April, with a short but punchy 3.4 km prologue in Saint-Imier, delivering an explosive start to the week. For British riders, it couldn’t have begun on a better note. Samuel Watson, the 23-year-old new recruit to INEOS Grenadiers, stormed to his first WorldTour victory and pulled on the leader’s jersey after a sensational ride.
Samuel Watson stuns the field and takes early control of the general classification.
The opening test demanded boldness, acceleration, and surgical precision through its eleven technical corners. In just 4 minutes and 33 seconds, at an average speed of 45.6 km/h, Watson defied expectations, edging out time-trial specialist Ivo Oliveira (UAE Team Emirates), the hot favourite for such a short effort. Movistar’s Ivan Romeo completed the podium, just three seconds back, while GC contender Remco Evenepoel limited his losses in 8th place.
This was a breakthrough moment for Watson, who until now had been primarily known for his strengths as a rouleur-sprinter and his promise on the one-day Classics. After a fourth-place finish at the Figueira Champions Classic and a podium on a stage of Paris-Nice earlier this year, this win confirms his sparkling early-season form. Making his debut at the Tour de Romandie, Watson couldn’t have made a stronger statement. He’ll start Wednesday’s first road stage wearing the yellow jersey, on a 194 km rolling route from Münchenstein to Fribourg, ending with a final climb averaging 6.7%, profile tailor-made for punchy finishers like, perhaps, Samuel Watson himself.
With this early flourish, the INEOS Grenadiers rider has firmly placed himself at the centre of the week’s narrative in Romandie. But beyond the individual success, British cycling as a whole is enjoying a moment in the spotlight on Swiss roads.
A strong British presence: 12 riders to watch this week.
A total of twelve British riders are on the start list this year : a significant and noteworthy presence at a WorldTour event. While Watson’s name leads the headlines, there’s genuine depth throughout the squad.
His INEOS teammate Geraint Thomas, a two-time winner of this race and a long-time loyalist of the Swiss stage race, is easing into the week without pressure but remains a likely player when the road tilts skyward. Also in the Grenadiers camp are Ben Swift, ever-reliable and vastly experienced, and the promising youngster Matthew Brennan, who’s currently thriving at Visma | Lease a Bike.
EF Education–EasyPost field two British climbers: Hugh Carthy, eighth overall at the 2021 Giro d’Italia and ever dependable in the high mountains, and Lukas Nerurkaran emerging talent and son of Olympic marathon runner Richard Nerurkar. Lukas also happens to be the godson of running legend Haile Gebrselassie, and seems to be carrying forward that athletic legacy as he begins carving out his own career.
Meanwhile, James Shaw, a proven team man with the stamina for rugged stage profiles and Daniel McLay, the sprinter, will be eyeing bunch finishes, particularly Wednesday’s stage into Fribourg.
Team Picnic PostNL, a recently promoted Dutch WorldTour outfit, brings two young Brits in Oscar Onley and Bjorn Koerdt. Onley, 22 and formerly of Team DSM, continues his rise through the ranks. A natural puncheur, he should find the Swiss terrain well-suited to his characteristics, assuming he navigates the mid-mountain stages unscathed. The Kelso native is being quietly tipped as a dark horse for the GC. As for Koerdt, less of a household name at just 20, he’s a well-rounded prospect likely to feature in breakaways as he gains WorldTour mileage.
Cofidis rider Oliver Knight continues his development at the top level, particularly in the time trial discipline. Over at Bahrain – Victorious, 21-year-old Finlay Pickering, once a standout in the junior ranks, has settled nicely into the elite team environment and may be handed freedom on transitional stages.
This broad spectrum of talents from sprinters to climbers, young guns to seasoned pros means the British contingent has cards to play across all terrains throughout the week. And with Watson’s prologue win setting the tone, ambitions are high to carry that momentum forward. The 2025 Tour de Romandie looks to be an ideal proving ground for Britain’s new generation… and a timely reminder that they already know how to win.
