2023-06-10 17:15:02
By @jmhers
Between June 11 and 18, the 86th edition of the Tour of Switzerland will take place, the last World Tour race before the Tour de France which, as we are used to, brings an interesting route and the last opportunity for the teams to measure riders and choose their payroll.
the tour
Flat stages, high mountains with important climbs, a total of 39 km against the clock and medium-mountain stages, this edition of the Tour de Suisse offers a bit of all terrains in the 1097 km of the race’s total route, which has contributed to gather a very interesting poster of participants.
Etapa 1. Einsiedeln – Einsiedeln CRI 12.7 km
The Tour de Suisse starts again with a totally flat individual time trial. The course mostly surrounds Lake Sihlsee and it won’t be too technical, but maybe some wind could influence the result. The most powerful time trialists will be the protagonists, but there should not be important differences between the men of the General.
Stage 2. Beromünster – Nottwil 173.7 km
Stage for sprinters with undulating sections spread out along the way, which could lead to a leak forming that puts more pressure than expected on the sprinter teams. However, most likely the day will be defined in a massive arrival.
Stage 3. Tafers – Villars-sur-Ollon 144 km
The mountain makes its appearance already on the 3rd day of competition. Two first category ports will be climbed together towards the end of the stage. Villars-sur-Ollon (9.6 km at 8%) will be the first hilltop finish of the Tour de Suisse. Being the first stage in the mountains, perhaps the favorites want to take the day cautiously and a breakaway can dispute the stage victory, while the team leaders limit themselves to trying changes of pace in the last km to measure the rivals.
Etapa 4. Monthey – Leukerbad 153 km
Another day in the high mountains with two first-category ascents: Crans Montana (13.7 km at 7%) and Dorben (19 km at 4.8%), the latter reaching the top just 4 km from the finish line. The Dorben pass presents a very interesting setting since its hardest ramps are at the beginning, with some breaks and up to 2 km of descent towards the middle of those 19 km. For the candidates for the general classification, the tactics they deploy on this ascent will be crucial, as well as having companions for as long as possible. At the end of this day, the CG will be much more refined.
Stage 5. Fiesch – La Punt 211 km
Undoubtedly the queen stage of this Tour of Switzerland. The runners will face a cumulative drop of 4,700 meters with two Out-of-Category climbs: Paso Furka (17.2 km at 6.2%), which is also the highest point of the race with its peak at more than 2,400 masl, and Paso Albula (18 km at 6.5%) that is crowned with 10 km to go. Among them, the Oberal Pass (10.7 km at 5.7%) of 1st category to further increase the demand. The attitude of the general teams will depend on how the differences are, but there will definitely be attacks in that last port of Paso Albula. The final descent to the finish line has quite technical areas so the runners who finish will have an advantage over their rivals and must balance gaining time and the risk that this entails.
Stage 6. La Punt – Oberwil-lieli 216 km
The longest stage of the Tour de Suisse, which will be a real war of attrition. As soon as the stage begins, you go up again to Paso Albula but on the opposite side. Of all the stages up to that moment, this is the one that is most conducive to a break with that 1st start port, the undulating terrain towards the end and taking into account that many favorites would willingly accept a truce after the harshness of the day. former. However, some brave person who wants to make up for lost time can try to get into that escape and stir up the hornet’s nest with unpredictable consequences.
Etapa 7. Tuebach – Weinfelden 184 km
Mid-mountain day with a flat finish. The teams of sprinters with the most energy after 6 difficult days will probably have to work hard to control the race situation with such a broken profile. The chances of victory are spread 50/50 between a massive arrival and a win from the break.
Stage 8. St. Gallen – Abtwil CRI 26.5 km
The race will be decided in this final time trial that includes a small trap: an uncategorized climb of just over a kilometer and a half with an average gradient of 8%. With all the accumulated wear and tear, more than one runner can choke on the legs. It is likely that the first places in the general come to this day with a relatively short distance between them, which will add more drama to the outcome.
The participation
The list of participants of this edition of the Tour of Switzerland exudes quality, perhaps matching the Dauphine poster that is usually the pre-Tour race that attracts the most attention.
The name that jumps out the fastest among the participants is that of Remco Evenepoel. The world champion returns to competition after having to abandon the Giro due to Covid, and despite the fact that he has already had a few weeks off, the health and preparation conditions with which he arrives at this race are somewhat uncertain. The respectable number of kilometers against the clock is the main ally of Evenepoel, who with his combative style of running can find more than one opportunity to gain time in the rest of the stages, if he is fit.
The list of possible contenders for the general victory is quite varied with riders like the local Gino Mader who arrives as the apparent leader of Bahrain Victorius, a team that also brings Pello Bilbao who is preparing the Tour. Sergio Higuita will also be in this race getting ready for the Big Curly and with the possibility of taking time in those winding routes of high and medium mountains. The EF squad for its part has another very interesting roster with Neilson Powlesswho is having a great season and has everything to be at the top of the general standings, and Rigoberto Urán that after the abandonment in the Giro is included among the possible chosen ones of his team for the Tour.
Romain Bardet, Juan Ayuso, Jay Vine, Ion Izaguirre, Jakob Fuglsang, Felix Gall, among others join the list of riders who may be fighting for an important position in the general. But in addition to the fight for the general victory, there will be several other important riders who come to look for stages, either in flat finishes such as the case of Arnaud Demare, Tim Merlier, Kaden Groves, Biniam Girmay or Peter Sagan; either in time trials such as Stefan Kung, Stefan Bissegger, Matteo Sobrero or Rohan Dennis; like many others in the high and medium mountains.
With Evenepoel trying to rebuild his season and with the other big monsters of stage racing absent, this Tour de Suisse could be a very open race where several riders will have a chance to contest the general. The fans hope that this favors the attacks and the spectacle and does not become rather a reason for speculation and excessive caution.
Forecast
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Remco Evenepoel, Jay Vine, Sergio Higuita
⭐⭐⭐ Wilco Kelderman, Gino Mader, Neilson Powless, Felix Gall
⭐⭐ Pello Bilbao, Wout van Aert, Ion Izaguirre, Romain Bardet
Marcelo Hernandez
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