From the very start, the stage was raced aggressively, with multiple attacks and a high pace that quickly thinned out the bunch. On the climbs, the race fully exploded and several groups formed, with the strongest riders moving to the front.

In the finale, Tadej Pogačar took control of the race and rode solo to a convincing stage win. Behind him, the chasing groups tried to limit the damage in a fast and demanding final phase.

Nordhagen spent the closing kilometres in the third group on the road and had to dig deep to stay in contact with the favourites. In the end, he managed to limit his losses and crossed the line together with a reduced group of riders, 1:47 behind the winner. Thanks to this effort, Nordhagen remains well placed in the general classification, holding a strong fourth position.

Sports director Gaëtan Pons was satisfied with the performance of his young rider after the stage. “Jørgen feels really good. The original goal was a top-5 finish, but if he can achieve a podium at this WorldTour level in Romandie, that would be amazing for his young career and it shows a lot of positive things for this team,” he said.

Tomorrow brings the final stage of the Tour de Romandie, featuring a tough finale and a final climb of around 15 kilometres that could still change everything in the overall standings.