While part of the peloton prepares for the Tour de France via the Critérium du Dauphiné, another part will start in the Tour of Switzerland. A challenging version awaits the riders.
A look at this century's Tour de Suisse honors list shows that it's actually no use admiring the beautiful Swiss landscape if you actually want to win the Tour de France.
Only two riders have managed the double this century: Lance Armstrong (although he was later disqualified from both results) in 2001 and Egan Bernal in 2019. Perhaps this is why the quality of the start list has been slightly lower in recent years than in Last few years.
the first
The first edition of the Tour of Switzerland was organized in 1933. The Swiss Motorcyclists' Association played a major role in organizing this race, which often changed dates, duration and sponsors over the years.
For the first edition, eventual winner Max Bola, an Austrian, came to Switzerland by night train after completing the race for the first time in Antwerp and Troyes. With two stage wins and a lead of more than nine minutes over Albert Pucci, Bola was very strong.
the last
With a total of over 38 kilometers of time trials and three mountain stages, the Tour de Suisse was also an absolute masterpiece for classification riders last year. Three contestants were the pre-candidates: Juan Ayuso, Remco Evenepoel and Matthias Skilmoz. The chance of the young winner taking home the final prize was great.
After the Dane won the first mountain stage towards Villars-sur-Ollon, he rode in yellow. Towards Leukerbad, Austrian Felix Gall took the leader's jersey, but Gall was unable to follow in Pula's footsteps.
The final mountain stage via the Albula Pass to La Pont will forever be a black page in the history of the Tour. Gino Mader died after a lightning-fast – though not particularly technical – fall towards the finish.
The rest of the round was about honoring the house rider. On the final day, there was a time trial still on the list, as Ayuso looked set to win the Tour at the extreme (after winning a stage at La Pont). However, Skjelmose arranged the clock test perfectly, leaving nine beats remaining. Evenepoel finished third in the standings after winning the Weinfelden stage.
The Road
The Swiss Tour organization is not averse to working against the clock on the opening day. Only five times this century has it started with a straight flight, and once again, it all started with a prologue. Just under five kilometers with an incredibly eye-catching track: four left turns. The start and finish are just 200 meters away in Liechtenstein's capital, picturesque Vaduz.
Runners who dare to start a Swiss stage race must be able to climb very well. The first stage in the line from Vaduz to Regensdorf has a climb over Regensburg in the final, a distance of almost four kilometers at less than six percent. The final is also quite technical.
So, if a runner dares to be at the start, it is better for him to come down after the second day. From the third stage onwards, it is a matter of classification for men only. A crazy stage towards the Rüschlikon has a spectacular finish, among other things, on the Besbas, and ends on the eastern bank of Lake Zurich on a steep slope towards the Rüschlikon school.
From the same location, on the fourth day we sailed to the most beautiful and – in our opinion – the cleanest country in Europe. Canton Ticino has the honor of hosting two stages in this edition, the fourth stage arriving at the Gotthard Pass. Steep and covered with cobblestones and sometimes irregular sections: delicious final ingredients!
Embry and Carey take on the start and finish a day later and are only fifteen kilometers apart. However, the organization has still mapped out a stage of approximately 150 km, which will also include a difficult final climb in parts.
From Locarno, on the north side of idyllic Lake Maggiore, we head north again. Along the way, the peloton crosses the imposing Nufenenpass, after which a long descent follows and the short but steep final ascent to Blatten forms the main part.
On the penultimate day, what a surprise, it is up to the climbers again. The Villars-sur-Ollon tour follows twice. From the starting position, it heads towards the top of the Col de la Croix, and after reaching the bottom at the Aigle, it follows the same roll towards Villars-sur-Ollon and then the Col de la Croix. In the final round, it remains “only” to climb towards the start and finish.
If you don't know the climb towards Villars-sur-Ollon well after two laps on the penultimate day, the peloton will have the opportunity to do so on the final day. The Tour of Switzerland ends with a true experience of climbing time. From the World Cycling Center in Aigle, riders first ride a flat five kilometers before ascending towards Villars-sur-Ollon. We doubt a good climber will win this round, but we could be wrong…
Favorite
Although last year's winner is defending his title in this edition, we don't dare say with certainty that the Danish champion is actually the favourite. Maybe we should start looking more at the names that should also score highly in the Tour de France.
Although many of the riders appear to be on the same level, and in that respect a potentially interesting Tour de Suisse, we have chosen one name: Richard Carapaz. The reigning Olympic champion, who is not allowed to defend his title for Ecuador in Paris – Jonathan Narvaez can try, he is improving in his condition and is also a former winner.
Strangers
With the number one shirt we immediately have one of the main candidates. We have already discussed it briefly: Matthias Schilmoz. What's interesting about Lidl-Trek is the participation of Thibau Nys – just like last year – in the Swiss stage race. There are at least two chances to win a stage and who knows what our youngest Belgian can make of a long journey?
As mentioned earlier, the competition for Carapaz and Skjelmose is almost at the same level: Enrique Mas And Egan Bernal They are, for example, names that fit perfectly into the list, just like Joao Almeida And one is in good condition Lenny Martinez.
From the Belgian point of view, we are looking forward to the winner of the UAE Tour, Lennert van Eetvelt. Or maybe Sian OutDebricks Be there as soon as he returns? Other notable taxonomy names in the start menu: Bello Bilbao, Emanuel Buchmann, Isaac del Toro, Eddie Dunbar, Wilco Kelderman, Kevin Vaukelin And Jay Fine.
stars
This leads us to the following star distribution:
****
Richard Carapaz
***
Enrique Maas and Matthias Schilmoz
**
Joao Almeida, Egan Bernal and Lenny Martinez
*
Belo Bilbao, Emanuel Buchmann, Isaac del Toro, Lennert van Eetvelt
the television
The race will be visible daily starting at approximately 3:00 p.m. This can always be done via Eurosport.
Enjoy your Switzerland tour!
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