The Tour de Suisse returns in 2024 with the shortest version within the race’s historical past by way of distance however as powerful as ever with practically the identical quantity of climbing as final 12 months packed into eight levels.
A 12 months after the tragic dying of Gino Mäder, who crashed on the descent from the Albula move, the complete area across the website of his fall is absent from the route.
As a substitute, the race begins in Vaduz and traverses the centre of Switzerland from north to south earlier than a visit west for the ultimate two levels round Villars-sur-Ollon.
The race will embrace two time trials and 4 mountain summit stage finishes, making for a troublesome week masking 948.9 kilometres and 19,000 metres of climbing.
“Solely the very best mountain riders will be capable to have their say for the general victory. Nevertheless, several types of riders shall be potential for stage victories,” says Tour director Olivier Senn.
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2024 Tour de Suisse levels
Stage
Begin-End
Date
Distance
Stage 1
Vaduz – Vaduz (ITT)
2024-06-09
4.8km
Stage 2
Vaduz – Regensdorf
2024-06-10
177.9km
Stage 3
Steinmaur – Rüschlikon
2024-06-11
161.9km
Stage 4
Rüschlikon – San Gottardo
2024-06-12
170.5km
Stage 5
Ambri – Cari
2024-06-13
148.8km
Stage 6
Locarno – Blatten Belalp
2024-06-14
151.2km
Stage 7
Villars-sur-Ollon – Villars-sur-Ollon
2024-06-15
118.7km
Stage 8
Aigle – Villars-sur-Ollon
2024-06-16
15.7km
Stage 1: Vaduz – Vaduz, 4.8km
Profile of stage 1 of Tour de Suisse 2023 (Picture credit score: Tour de Suisse)
The Tour de Suisse begins with a short while trial in Vaduz, simply 4.8 kilometres lengthy and pan-flat. The stage will most definitely not be a significant component for the final classification however as a substitute, offers the sprinters and energy riders an opportunity to take the lead earlier than the race heads into the excessive mountains.
Stage 2: Vaduz – Regensdorf, 177.9km
Profile for stage 2 of Tour de Suisse 2023 (Picture credit score: Tour de Suisse)
The second day of racing is a punchy course, leaving Vaduz and heading to Regensdorf. Though it is simply 177.9 kilometres, it is the longest stage of the 2024 Tour de Suisse. With three categorized ascents and a couple of,400 metres of climbing, it should give the mountain goats an opportunity to heat up their legs after the explosive effort on the opening stage however finally may find yourself in a bunch dash.
Stage 3: Steinmaur – Rüschlikon, 161.9km
Profile of stage 3 of Tour de Suisse 2023 (Picture credit score: Tour de Suisse)
Stage 3 of the 2024 Tour de Suisse heads from Steinmaur to Rüschlikon and, except for stage 1, is the flattest of the week and one suited to the sprinters even when it climbs virtually 2,000 metres. There’s a brief climb ending with 10km to go and a fast descent and an uphill drag to the road.
Stage 4: Rüschlikon – San Gottardo, 170.5km
Profile of stage 4 of Tour de Suisse 2023 (Picture credit score: Tour de Suisse)
The roads start to succeed in into the 1000’s of metres in altitude on stage 4 of the 2024 Tour de Suisse. After a comparatively flat first 140 kilometres, the race heads up the one climb of the day, the undulating Gotthard Move from the Schöllenen gorge aspect to the north, a 13.2km take a look at at a median of seven% grade.
Stage 5: Ambri – Cari, 148.8km
Profile of stage 5 of Tour de Suisse 2023 (Picture credit score: Tour de Suisse)
Stage 5 offers riders an out-and-back route of 148.8km from Ambri to Cari, beginning with a loop round Ambri that takes within the Altanca ascent virtually from the flag drop and provides little respite earlier than the primary ascent of the mountain to Cari, coming from the western aspect. Riders then descend previous the end line and race towards Biasca and full a flat loop via Gorduno earlier than coming again the best way they got here to summit Cari from the jap aspect.
With double-digit gradients and a median of 8%, it is a main take a look at for the GC contenders, particularly on the finish of a brief stage with 3,200 metres of climbing.
Stage 6: Locarno – Blatten-Belalp, 151.2km
Profile of stage 6 of Tour de Suisse 2023 (Picture credit score: Tour de Suisse)
Extra mountains meet the riders on stage 6 with the very best level of the 2024 Tour de Suisse approaching the mid-stage Nufenenpass from Airolo and ascending to over 2,400 metres in altitude. Often known as the Passo della Novenà, it is a beast of a climb – 24.1km lengthy and averaging 5.5% – however solely the nice and cozy up for the 7km closing ascent to Blatten on the finish of the 151.2km stage.
Profile of stage 7 of Tour de Suisse 2023 (Picture credit score: Tour de Suisse)
Stage 7 could be very brief and shall be a free-for-all beginning on the Col de la Croix out of the gates, and masking the climb a second time mid-stage earlier than ending at Villars-sur-Ollon partway up the third ascent. The climb itself is eighteen.5km lengthy and averages 6.8% and makes up many of the day. The riders shall be very conversant in every switchback by the point they attain the end after 118.7 kilometres and three,070 metres of climbing.
Stage 8: Aigle – Villars-sur-Ollon (ITT), 15.7km
Profile of stage 8 of Tour de Suisse 2023 (Picture credit score: Tour de Suisse)
As if the riders hadn’t gone up the Croix sufficient, the ultimate stage time trial makes use of a chunk of the course from stage 7, heading from the UCI headquarters in Aigle again as much as Villars-sur-Ollon masking 15.7km and 879 metres of climbing. It is a sting within the tail after every week filled with ascending.
