If you only watch bike racing in June for the Tour de France implications, the Critérium du Dauphiné far outweighs the Tour de Suisse with its startlist of potential yellow jersey hopefuls. However, if you can appreciate incredible scenery and a good one-week showdown, the Suisse has plenty to offer. VH previews the action, which kicks of Saturday in Baar.
The Route
The Suisse begins with a few quieter stages but things turn quite mountainous midway through the race.
Things kick off with a short time trial unlikely to have too much of a GC impact. Then come three straight sprinter- or puncheur-friendly days that will have the overall hopefuls mostly looking to stay safe before a brutal final five stages.
Stage 5 is short at under 130km, but an hors-categorie finish after an HC and Cat. 1 duo will be brutal. Stage 6 follows that up with an HC climb into a Cat. 1 finish. Anyone hoping for a rest day after that will be disappointed by Stage 7, a long one at 224km with an early hors categorie climb and then an HC-rated summit finish.
The Stage 8 time trial is short at 16.8km but it could still have some impact on the race. Expect a few contenders to come up empty against the clock after three straight mountain stages.
Stage 9 closes things out with one last day at high altitudes. While very short (it’s less than 120km from start to finish) the route includes two HC-rated climbs sure to provide excitement.
The General Classification Contenders
This is one of the most mountainous WorldTour one-weekers in recent memory. The climbers will be licking their chops for this opportunity to put their skills on display, though some TT ability could provide the winning edge.
Tejay van Garderen will be motivated to perform given how well Richie Porte is doing in the Dauphiné. When healthy, he’s proven that he can climb with the very best, and of course he has the time trialing skills to seal the deal. I like his chances in the Suisse.
Geraint Thomas is similarly well-rounded. Runner-up in 2015, the Welshman will be very dangerous on these long, grinding climbs. Leopold König is a strong second option.
Rui Costa, three-time winner at the Suisse, has an extra gear for this race. The parcours this year could make things difficult, as Costa may struggle on the very toughest climbs, but he’s one of the few riders in attendance likely to be seriously targeting the win.
Last year’s winner Simon Spilak is another big name that comes to mind as likely to be going 100% for the overall victory. Never a rider for the grand tours, Spilak thrives in Swiss one-week races, and he should be in shape to contend here.
Ion Izagirre also specializes in one-week success. The high mountains will prove challenging, but Izagirre has been very impressive when he has been given opportunities to ride for his own ambitions.
Cannondale’s dynamic duo of Andrew Talansky and Joe Dombrowski, LottoNL-Jumbo’s pairing of Wilco Kelderman and Robert Gesink, rising star Miguel Ángel López, home rider Mathias Frank, veteran JC Peraud, and young gun Warren Barguil are other potential protagonists for the overall.
The Stagehunters
The marquee bunch sprinters of the pro peloton are skipping out on a Tour de Suisse that has little to offer them, leaving Fernando Gaviria as the biggest name “pure” sprinter in the field. However, Peter Sagan, Michael Matthews, Philippe Gilbert, and Michael Albasini bring plenty of speed to contest what could be a few reduced gallops in the early stage of the race.
Tim Wellens, Fabian Cancellara, Silvan Dillier, and Zdenek Stybar are others to watch in the stagehunting game.
VeloHuman Top 10 Overall Favorites
Winner: Tejay van Garderen
Podium: Geraint Thomas, Rui Costa
Other Top Contenders: Simon Spilak, Ion Izagirre, Andrew Talansky, Wilco Kelderman, Warren Barguil, Leopold König, Miguel Ángel López, Mathias Frank