Tadej Pogačar eases to Romandie win for 1st stage-race title after stellar run in one-day classics

LEYSIN, Switzerland (AP) — Cycling superstar Tadej Pogačar showed Sunday he will be just as hard to beat in stage races as one-day classics this season.

Pogačar rode to overall victory in the six-day Tour de Romandie with his fourth stage win of the race, proving too strong for potential Tour de France rival Florian Lipowitz on the rising roads into ski station Leysin.

The Slovenian star had come to Switzerland this week after winning Liège–Bastogne–Liège last Sunday, which was his third title in four coveted one-day classics in the European spring known as the Monuments. Pogačar won Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders and in Liège, and was second in the other one-day race with Monument status, edged for the Paris-Roubaix win by Wout van Aert.

Pogačar was attacked repeatedly Sunday by Lipowitz, who was third when the Slovenian rider won his fourth Tour de France title last year, in a duel through the final three kilometers (two miles).

Pogačar eased clear of Lipowitz in the closing stages to add three seconds on to a winning margin of 42 seconds overall. In third place overall, Lenny Martinez of France was 2 minutes, 44 seconds back.

It was the 27-year-old Pogačar's first start at the Romandie race through the French-speaking region of Switzerland that is an early-season trial for the Tour de France. The double was done in three straight years from 2011-13 by Cadel Evans, Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome.

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Winner Tadej Pogacar, left, from Slovenia, celebrates ahead of second placed Dorion Godon, right, from France, to win the second stage, a 173,1 km race between Rue and Vucherens, of the 79th Tour de Romandie UCI World Tour Cycling race, in Vuillens, Switzerland, Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Laurent Gillieron/Keystone via AP)

Race's overall leader Tadej Pogacar, from Slovenia, celebrates on the podium after winning the second stage, a 173,1 km race between Rue and Vucherens, of the 79th Tour de Romandie UCI World Tour Cycling race, in Vuillens, Switzerland, Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Laurent Gillieron/Keystone via AP)

MILAN (AP) — AC Milan is falling into danger of losing its Champions League place as city rival Inter Milan closes in on the Serie A title

Massimiliano Allegri's team was reduced to 10 men and beaten 2-0 at Sassuolo on Sunday for its fourth loss in seven matches.

Third-placed Milan was left only three points ahead of fourth-placed Juventus, which hosted Hellas Verona later; and five points ahead of fifth-placed Como, which is trying to get into the top four and secure a Champions League spot.

Three rounds remain in the Italian league.

Domenico Berardi scored early on for Sassuolo for his 12th career goal against Milan and Fikayo Tomori was sent off before Armand Lauriente doubled the advantage after the break.

Milan has scored only one goal in its last five matches.

Inter, which is 12 points ahead of Milan, can seal the title with a draw against visiting Parma later.

Earlier, Bologna was held 0-0 by Cagliari in a regional derby.

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Sassuolo's Kristian Thorstvedt, left, fights for the ball with Milan's Ardon Jashari during an Italian Serie A soccer match between Sassuolo and Milan in Reggio Emilia, Italy, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (Gianni Santandrea/LaPresse via AP)

Players celebrate Sassuolo Domenico Berardi's first goal of the game during an Italian Serie A soccer match between Sassuolo and Milan in Reggio Emilia, Italy, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (Gianni Santandrea/LaPresse via AP)

Cagliari's Alessandro Deiola scores a goal but referee Valerio Crezzini cancels the goal, during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Bologna and Cagliari, in Bologna, north Italy, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)