The Jumbo-Visma rider takes over the yellow jersey after besting general classification rivals in a sprint from a 20-man group. Second place went to David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ), with Rui Costa (UAE Team Emirates) third.
Geraint Thomas (Team Ineos) put in a stinging solo attack inside the final kilometre but was unable to hold off the group.
“It was a really hard day for me and it wasn’t easy with a lot of climbs but, in the end, I managed to get the stage from a small group,” Roglic said. “It was nice to win a sprint because I’ve lost quite a lot of times in sprints so it’s a nice feeling now I’ve finally won.”
Tour de Romandie continues on Thursday with the 174.4km second stage from Le Locle to Morges and concludes on Sunday with an individual time trial in Geneva.
'Phenomenal' from @rogla!
The reigning champion wins stage one of the #TDR2019 after an exciting sprint finish pic.twitter.com/xLTfA4ZQK8
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) May 1, 2019
Tour de Romandie 2019 – stage 1 results (Neuchâtel – La Chaux-de-Fonds):
| 1 | Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) | 4:15:18 |
| 2 | David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) | ,, |
| 3 | Rui Costa (UAE Team Emirates) | ,, |
| 4 | Michael Woods (EF Education First) | ,, |
| 5 | Damien Howson (Mitchelton-Scott) | ,, |
| 6 | Carl Fredrik Hagen (Lotto Soudal) | ,, |
| 7 | Eduardo Sepulveda (Movistar) | ,, |
| 8 | Jan Hirt (Cze) Astana | ,, |
| 9 | Felix Großschartner (Bora-hansgrohe) | ,, |
| 10 | Guillaume Martin (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) | ,, |
Tour de Romandie 2019 – general classification after stage 1:
| 1 | Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) | 4:20:15 |
| 2 | Rui Costa (UAE Team Emirates) | +10” |
| 3 | David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) | +12” |
| 4 | Geraint Thomas (Team Ineos) | +13” |
| 5 | Carlos Betancur (Movistar) | +14” |
| 6 | Felix Großschartner (Bora-hansgrohe) | +15” |
| 7 | Steven Kruijswijk (Jumbo-Visma) | +17” |
| 8 | James Knox (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) | +18” |
| 9 | Damien Howson (Mitchelton-Scott) | ,, |
| 10 | Winner Anacona (Movistar) | +19” |
