The 87th Tour de Suisse kicks off in 10 days’ time. Led by defending champion Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl – Trek), the tour starts with a prologue in Vaduz. A week later, the women’s race begins in Villars-sur-Ollon. Here the spotlight will be on last year’s winner Marlen Reusser(SD Worx – Protime).
“It’s not a matter of course to have both defending champions at the start. But it underlines the importance of the Tour de Suisse among the riders,” says Tour Director Olivier Senn.
Big International Names and the Who’s Who of Swiss Cycling
In the men’s race, Skjelmose is joined on the provisional start list by other favourites for GC victory. These include two former Tour de Suisse winners Richard Carapaz (EF Education – EasyPost) and Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) as well as Spaniard Enric Mas (Movistar). Then there is Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan) – cycling’s most successful sprinter. Young riders such as the multi-talented cyclist Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers), Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) and Lenny Martinez (Groupama – FDJ) round off a great starting field.
All the big Swiss names are expected to be at the start. In addition to time trialists Stefan Küng (Groupama – FDJ) and Stefan Bissegger (EF Education – EasyPost), the pros from VC Steinmaur, Mauro Schmid (Jayco Alula), Johan Jacobs (Movistar) and Fabian Lienhard (Groupama – FDJ) have a home ground advantage with the stage start in Steinmaur. Marc Hirschi and Jan Christen (both UAE Team Emirates) as well as Sébastien Reichenbach and Yannis Voisard (both Tudor Pro Cycling) will also be at the start. The Swiss contingent is further supplemented by the Swiss Cycling National Team.
Who can challenge Marlen Reusser?
Like last year, Reusser’s biggest competition will come from within her own camp in the form of Demi Vollering (SD Worx – Protime). Marianne Vos (Visma / Lease a Bike), currently the most successful female rider, is also on the provisional start list. Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl – Trek) and Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon//SRAM Racing) may also be among the front runners in the overall classification.
Switzerland’s Elise Chabbey (Canyon//SRAM Racing) and Noemi Rüegg (EF Education-Cannondale) will be chasing stage wins against their compatriot Reusser. Other Swiss riders like Elena Hartmann (Team Roland), Petra Stiasny (Fenix-Deceuninck) and the young riders of the Swiss Cycling National Team will be in the hunt as well.
The definitive start lists will be published on www.tourdesuisse.ch the evening before the race.
Both races with lots of climbing
From Vaduz to Villars-sur-Ollon, there are 950 kilometres and almost 19,000 metres of altitude to conquer. “This year is definitely one for the climbers”, says Tour de Suisse Sports Director David Loosli. With the four mountain finishes on the Gotthard Pass, in Carì (TI), in Blatten (VS) and in Villars-sur-Ollon (VD), the sprint and classic specialists will only have an opportunity to win on the stages to Regensdorf and Rüschlikon (both ZH). Pure time trialists will likely only come to the fore at the start in Vaduz. The second time trial to Villars-sur-Ollon on the final weekend will again suit the climbers.
The women’s peloton will tackle over 6,600 metres of altitude over 330 kilometres. “The battle for yellow will be on from day one,” David Loosli is certain. The mountain circuit with start and finish in Villars-sur-Ollon guarantees this. Sunday’s time trial will be followed by two hilly stages, both of which finish in Champagne (VD). It won’t be easy for sprinters on these days either.
Each day the last two hours of the men’s race and 90 minutes of the women’s race will be broadcast live on national television (SRF, RTS, RSI) as well as internationally (Eurosport and others).
Remembering Gino Mäder
Gino Mäder’s tragic accident at last year’s Tour de Suisse remains a sad memory for the cycling world. Tour Director Olivier Senn explains how Gino will be remembered at this year’s Tour and beyond: “One of Gino’s great strengths was in the high mountains, so together with Gino’s family we have decided to dedicate the highest point of the race to him. From this year onwards, the roof of the Tour will be called the #rideforgino Mountain Prize, where the first rider can win a special prize. Gino will thus remain forever associated with the Tour de Suisse”. On the anniversary of Gino’s death, 16th June, the #rideforgino association is also organising a ride from Aigle to Villars in Gino’s memory. And for all those who wish to remember Gino during their daily rides, there will be special #rideforgino socks for sale, the proceeds of which will go entirely to the association and its projects.
Tour de Suisse Sustainability Award 2024
This year, the participating teams were assessed by means of a survey and an evaluation by our partner Quambio on their activities relating to environmental sustainability. The Tour de Suisse, Primeo Energie and Quambio then presented the Tour de Suisse Sustainability Award 2024 to Team Movistar. The decisive factors were the proven track record over several years through regular emissions measurements, defined reduction strategies and the involvement of the entire team in diverse activities. The team wins a symbolic amount for a charity of its choice. In addition the riders will wear special blue start numbers at this year’s race.
TdS FanZone by Primeo Energie – Where the fans are winners!
It doesn’t matter whether you’re at the side of the road or sitting comfortably on your sofa at home. The TdS FanZone by Primeo Energie presents a digital world to complement the racing spectacle on the road, bringing the Tour de Suisse even closer to fans. This year there are new features and highlights to discover:
- NEW– Tour de Suisse Mini Game
- Prize draw from June 1st-30th with TREK e-bike as the grand prize
- NEW – Live TV stream of all stages (only in Switzerland)
- And much more……
More than just a cycle race
In addition to the popular advertising convoy, which drives around an hour ahead of the field, there is a daily kids’ race on the home straight and the Partner Village in the finish area to discover. On Sunday 9th June in Vaduz there will also be a Family Day with great activities. As well as a Mascot Race, children can participate in a series of activities in the Tour de Suisse Village and families can ride laps on the closed Prologue route. All activities can be found here.
