2016 Tour de Suisse Race Preview
The details of this year's 2016 Tour de Suisse are falling into place. Find the latest route profiles and maps below, followed by our strategic preview of the race.
The 2016 Tour de Suisse is set to provide one of the most compelling weeks of racing in the European calendar as the peloton heads to Switzerland for eight stages of challenging and varied terrain. The race, which serves as an important final tune-up for many of the sport's biggest names ahead of the Tour de France, promises to deliver drama across the Alps and through some of the country's most scenic landscapes.
The startlist reads like a who's who of grand tour contenders, with Chris Froome heading up a strong Sky outfit. The reigning Tour de France champion arrives in Switzerland with serious ambitions and will be supported by a well-drilled team capable of controlling races on both the flat and in the mountains. Froome's presence alone elevates the prestige of the event and guarantees that the general classification battle will be conducted at the highest level.
Nairo Quintana will be among the primary challengers, the Colombian climber representing a genuine threat on any mountain stage the race has to offer. His ability to dance away from rivals on steep gradients makes him a constant danger, and Swiss roads should suit his particular skillset well. Alongside him, Richie Porte arrives in fine recent form and cannot be discounted for overall honours, the Australian proving increasingly capable of matching the very best riders across multiple days of racing.
The route itself features a number of challenging summit finishes and technical descents that should sort out the overall contenders relatively early in the race. The time trial element will also prove crucial, potentially opening significant gaps before the final mountain stages have even been contested. Teams will need to manage their resources carefully, balancing stage hunting with the demands of the overall classification.
For the sprinters, the early flat stages offer opportunities before the race heads into the hills, with Marcel Kittel among those who might target victories before the road tilts upward. Stage hunters and breakaway specialists will also find openings throughout the week, as teams protecting overall contenders are unlikely to chase every move in the peloton.
The weather in Switzerland can be unpredictable in June, with the possibility of rain and cold temperatures in the higher passes adding an extra layer of uncertainty to proceedings. Riders who can adapt quickly to changing conditions and maintain their composure in technical situations will hold an advantage over those less comfortable in such environments.
Overall the 2016 Tour de Suisse shapes up as a genuinely open contest with multiple plausible winners and enough route variety to reward different types of riders across the eight days of competition. It represents the perfect dress rehearsal for the Tour de France and should provide fans with a thrilling preview of what to expect when the sport's biggest race gets underway later in the summer.
Get our full coverage of the Tour de Suisse and every race we cover with our mobile app! The apps have over 100 additional exclusive features, including our award-winning Time Machine feature that lets you pause/rewind/replay the entire app to sync with delayed race video, integrated Fantasy Cycling, push notifications, an integrated news feed, live GPS tracking, world-class commentary, and our animated interactive maps and profiles.
