Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas headlines the Tour de Suisse along with Peter Sagan

The Tour de Suisse 2019 promises two fast time trials, sprint finishes against spectacular backdrops, a summit finish on the famous Gotthard Pass

The 83rd edition of the Tour de Suisse finishes two weeks before the Tour de France starts and, along with the Critérium du Dauphiné, the race is seen as an ideal race to test form before the July showdown. The 2019 edition starts on Saturday 15 June with a short ITT to finish with the Queen Stage on Sunday the 23th. Featuring two mountain stages and another ITT, the final weekend is probably going to be decisive.

Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas headlines the Tour de Suisse long with Peter Sagan and Nairo Quintana. 

Other favorites are Greg Van Avermaet (CCC Team), Enric Mas (Deceuninck-Quick-Step), Roman Kreuziger (Dimension Data), Stefan Küng (Groupama – FDJ), Søren Kragh Andersen (Team Sunweb), Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) and sprinters Fernando Gaviria Alexander Kristoff (UAE-Team Emirates) and Peter Sagan

Richie Porte won last year's race ahead of Jakob Fuglsang and Nairo Quintana. The 2019 race is a total of 1,172 kms and 18,994 metres of altitude. 

Saturday, 15 June 2019, 1st stage

Individual time trial, Langnau i.E. (Bern) [9.5 km, 68 m altitude]

The Tour de Suisse 2019 will begin with a short time trial in Langnau im Emmental. The flat circuit at the Langnau i.E. starting hub promises fast times against the clock. From the very first metre, the time trial specialists will be battling for every second. 

Will last year’s time trial champion Stefan Küng seize his home advantage and leave Langnau with the yellow jersey?

Sunday, 16 June 2019, 2nd stage

Circuit, Langnau i.E. (Bern) [160 km, 2,532 m altitude]

On Sunday, the riders set off on a circuit that heads south from Langnau i.E. and over the notorious Chuderhüsi Pass, before continuing with loops over the popular Schallenberg Pass. The riders make three laps of this hilly circuit, offering spectators plenty of opportunities to enjoy the exciting race atmosphere from the sidelines. This high-altitude route will provide plenty of action and a tough sprint finish back into Langnau. After the previous day’s short time trial comes the battle for the yellow jersey. Don’t be surprised if a small breakaway group of sprinters steals the show.

Monday, 17 June 2019, 3rd stage

Flamatt (Fribourg) – Murten (Fribourg) [162 km, 1,525 m altitude] 

The third stage starts in the German-speaking part of the canton of Fribourg before looping around the Lake of Gruyère in the French part.
Once the riders have acquitted themselves on the steep cobbles of Lorette in the city of Fribourg’s historic centre, the peloton heads for Murten, with a finishing loop around Lake Murten. Spectators will get to see the riders twice in Murten; in between, the field of riders will wind through vineyards in the picturesque landscape around Lake Murten. The stage will finish at the historic gate to the old town. The organisers expect a fast, hard-fought race through to the finish line.

Tuesday, 18 June 2019, 4th stage

Murten (Fribourg) – Arlesheim (Basel-Landschaft) [164 km, 1,980 m altitude]

On the fourth day, the Tour de Suisse will head east through the Seeland region. The route winds past the Jura Mountains to Solothurn and over the Passwang Pass into the canton of Basel-Landschaft. 

There will once again be a finishing circuit, ensuring spectators get double the racing pleasure on the sidelines. It remains to be seen whether there will be a breakaway group to cheer on in Arlesheim, or a sprint to the finish.

Wednesday, 19 June 2019, 5th stage

Münchenstein (Basel-Landschaft) – Einsiedeln (Schwyz) [177 km, 2,750 m altitude]

The fifth stage begins on the Primo Energie site (former EBM site) in Münchenstein, on the outskirts of Basel.
From the north of the country, the route cuts straight across the Swiss Plateau and over the saddle to Einsiedeln, where the riders will complete a circuit of Lake Sihl before what promises to be a thunderous sprint to the historic Klosterplatz in Einsiedeln.

This stage offers the sprinters one last chance to shine, with plenty of fast racing.

Thursday, 20 June 2019, 6th stage

Einsiedeln (Schwyz) – Flumserberg (St. Gallen) [120 km, 1,941 m altitude]

The sixth stage is the shortest of the 83rd edition. The combination of a short stage and multiple ascents can offer thrilling, multi-faceted racing, a potential frequently realised in recent years. From Einsiedeln, the riders skirt Lake Zurich to reach Rapperswil, continuing through the highest region of the canton of St. Gallen between the Säntis and Churfirsten mountains and on to Sargans.

The finish line of the sixth stage is on Flumserberg, high above Lake Walen. It was here in 1995 that Italian mountain pro Marco Pantani celebrated his victory against a stunning Alpine backdrop, and this will also be where the general classification first starts taking shape for this year’s Tour de Suisse.

Friday, 21 June 2019, 7th stage

Unterterzen (St. Gallen) – Gotthard Pass (Ticino) [217 km, 4,080 m altitude]

The following day, the riders will set out along Lake Walen for the longest stage of this year’s race. Following the Rhine upstream, the route goes via Chur to Disentis.
At this point, the route becomes even more mountainous and steeper; the Lukmanier Pass will really put the riders to the test.

Once they leave Biasca in Ticino, the rest of the stage is a relentless 50 km uphill climb. The crowning finish of the seventh stage is the historic Tremola on the Gothard Pass. This historic – cobbled – pass road is one of the best-known and impressive Alpine passes of all. The summit finish in this beloved Swiss location will ensure an electric atmosphere.

Saturday, 22 June 2019, 8th stage

Individual time trials, Ulrichen (Valais) [19 km, 98 m altitude]

The 2019 closing weekend will take place at the finishing hub in Goms. The time trial course leads out of the valley from Ulrichen on a stretch of road tarred especially for the tour.

Coming between two tough stages in the Alps, Saturday is actually two races in one: time trial specialists get a second grab at a stage win after the start in Langnau, while the general classification riders will have a last opportunity to make corrections before the queen stage the next day.

The fast course offers spectators a spectacular racing atmosphere and a great sporting festival for all ages.

Sunday, 23 June 2019, 9th stage

Queen stage circuit, Ulrichen (Valais) [144 km, 4,020 m altitude]

The Tour de Suisse 2019 will end with a thundering queen stage through the classic Alpine circuit of the Furka, Susten and Grimsel passes. These three hors catégorie passes will see the cyclists climb more than 4,000 metres in total, with barely a flat stretch for relief. 

The queen stage keeps the thrills of this year’s Tour de Suisse going right to the end.