The Tour de Romandie has built a reputation for wet and miserable weather in recent years. Despite being on the cusp of spring and with the first Grand Tour just days away, the race can feel like a tough winter training ride, but it offers the general classification protagonists a chance to test their legs in the build-up to the Giro d'Italia and a solid racing block for those focused on the Tour de France.
With the famous wet weather of the race ensuring temperatures in the single figures, driving rain and even snow, the riders had an array of wet and cold weather gear on show in this year's race, where Richie Porte (BMC) claimed the overall honours.
Team Sky tested a 2018 version of an updated Castelli jacket, while many riders wore non-sponsor clothing with the exposed labels blacked out to prevent any sponsor grumblings or contract breaches.
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Several teams opted to equip their bikes with lightweight plastic mudguards clipped onto their saddles. The guards offer extra protection from road spray, are quick to install or remove and add little weight to the bikes.
The usual custom frames were on show for the national champions, whilst Fabio Felline's lucky horseshoe on his stem seemed to work for the opening three days of the race after the Italian scorched to victory in the prologue time trial.
Wanty-Groupe Gobert were the only non-WorldTour team at the race, and the Pro Continental outfit's bikes were equipped with Shimano Dura-Ace 9100 mechanical groupsets. Several Astana riders were also seen racing with Shimano Ultegra chains and cassettes, showing that top-of-the-range components are not always necessary.
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