The seven athletes who will make up the Swiss national team at the Tour de Romandie are known. The participation of Mathias Flückiger, Claudio Imhof, Simon Pellaud and Joab Schneiter was already announced last week. National coach Michael Albasini's team is completed by Matthias Reutimann, who finished sixth at the 2020 Swiss Championships in Märwil, track specialist Cyrille Thièry and Joel Suter. The latter already represented Swiss Cycling at the 2020 European Road Championships in Plouay.

As with the national team's first participation in the Tour de Romandie in spring 2019, the riders will not be hiding. "We'll try to show ourselves, go on the offensive whenever possible and take our chances if they come our way. If everything comes together on one day, we have the potential to win a stage," says Michael Albasini. "The overall classification is not an issue for us. But maybe we'll get the opportunity to fight for victory in a special classification." This is what happened two years ago, when Simon Pellaud was able to celebrate winning the mountain prize classification.

World Cup as a goal, seize opportunities on the road

For Mathias Flückiger, it is a return to familiar territory. He was also part of the Swiss team line-up for the 2019 Tour de Romandie. He finished the week-long tour in 45th place - at the time, it was the ideal preparation for the World Cup opener, which he won. Flückiger's goals for his return to the road peloton are once again focused on the World Cup, without losing sight of his potential chances in the Tour.

The Tour de Romandie went well for you in 2019. Is that the reason for your renewed participation? Definitely. In preparation for the World Cup season, I've been riding more road races like the Tour of Croatia or the Tour de l'Ain in recent years. Races like these are good for me and always give me a good training stimulus.

Two years ago, you were slightly ailing, but now you're starting the race in brilliant form. Are you going to try to get something out of a stage or will you be content with the role of helper?
I don't know what the team tactics are for the race. And to be honest, I haven't had time to study the stages in detail and think about which ones might suit me. But I generally like the hilly sections, so I won't ride cautiously if possible. Making it into a good breakaway group would be great.

So close to the start of the World Cup, isn't there a risk that you won't get enough rest? Two years ago, there was an extra week between the Tour and Albstadt.
That is correct. And that's why I'm taking something out now. Not that I'm going to the Tour de Romandie at the peak, but that I can benefit from it again. I'm aware that it's tight. But if I do everything right, especially after the Tour, it will work out.

In addition to the importance of preparation, what significance does this participation have for you emotionally?
It's super cool that I can compete in a tour at Pro Tour level again. I can't deny that I've also toyed with the idea of switching to the road in the past. However, almost ten years ago, when it would have been possible for me sooner, I would have had to give up mountain biking altogether. That would no longer be the case today.

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