The Tour de Suisse reinforces its standing as the most important week-long tour in the cycling calendar with a varied and challenging route. Continuing the tradition of visiting neighbouring countries, the 88th edition of the Tour also takes in Italy.
Just 16 kilometres separate the start town of Küssnacht and the finish town of Stockhütte above Emmetten. And yet for the pro cyclists who will complete the race, there are more than 1,300 kilometres and over 20,000 metres of altitude between the two towns, providing a worthy setting for the 88th men’s Tour de Suisse. “Central Switzerland will be the epicentre of cycling in June. On both weekends we will see great races and celebrate a folk festival with the cycle-loving population of Central Switzerland,” says Tour Director Olivier Senn.
Unlike last year there will be no prologue but rather a hilly circuit around the Rigi to decide who will be the first to wear the yellow leader’s jersey. “The opening stage on Sunday 15th June promises to be very exciting. Fans can look forward to a great start to the Tour de Suisse 2025, both in the battle for the stage win and in the overall classification,” says route planner David Loosli. With starts in Aarau on both Monday and Tuesday, the Tour will then head for finishes at the Host Cities of Schwarzsee and Heiden respectively. Two hilly stages that could be won by sprinters or breakaway riders.
Another international visit in 2025
On the fourth day the Tour de Suisse heads over the first Alpine pass. The 2,113-metre-high Splügen Pass is both the great obstacle of the day and the border crossing between Switzerland and Italy. “As in the previous year, we have a stage a finish in a neighbouring country this year in Piuro (Valchiavenna). The enthusiasm for cycling in Italy is very high and we hope to see lots of fans on the roadside,” says Loosli, looking forward to the Tour de Suisse’s first guest appearance in Valtellina.
The following day will see the Queen Stage from La Punt in the Engadine to Santa Maria in Calanca. Almost 4,000 metres in altitude, two Alpine passes (Julier and San Bernardino) and twice making the steep and difficult climb to the finish in Santa Maria will decide between victory and defeat on this day.
After an excursion from Chur to Neuhausen am Rheinfall and from there to Emmetten at the start of the second weekend, a very demanding mountain time trial from Beckenried up to the Stockhütte on Sunday 22nd June will determine the overall winner of the 88th Tour de Suisse Men. “There can be no tactics on the last day. Only the strongest cyclists will still be in contention for overall victory,” says David Loosli confidently.
Additional information to follow
In mid-April the precise route as well as the teams taking part in the Tour de Suisse Women 2025 will be announced. This year a new side event, the Tour de Suisse Explorer, will be launched to encourage people in Switzerland to cycle and discover the Tour de Suisse Host Cities in a new way. More information to come in the next few weeks.
