PREVIEW | Tour de Suisse 2023 stage 2 - Wout van Aert and Tim Merlier among big favourites for windy bunch sprint

Preview. Stage 2 of he Tour de Suisse is not an easy day by any means but it should be one for the sprinters, as Stefan Küng puts on the first yellow jersey of the race.

The Swiss race heads into a likely sprint on stage 2. Between Beromünster and Nottwil the riders will find some short climbs early in the day, and the finale isn't completely flat. However it should be one that is to be controlled.

Departure and arrival times (estimated CET):

- June 12 - Stage 2: Beromünster - Nottwil, 173.7km. From 1:05 p.m. to 4:50 p.m.

A typical Tour de Suisse day, suiting the sprinters but finding an interesting variety of climbs throughout the day. The whole stage takes place within a small area but covers many roads. The first third of the stage will be decently hard, but unless a strong breakaway goes up the road there will be no real reason to stress for the fast men.

The riders find a 3.3-kilometer climb at 4.8% which summits with 24 kilometers to go, but it shouldn't make a difference in the outcome of the day. The rolling roads that follow may motivate attacks however, but the finale will then be very straightforward.

If any rider arrives in the final kilometers off the front it'll be hard to survive. There isn't a single corner or gradient to mention for several kilometers before the finish line, it'll make for an interesting sprint where timing and planning into the sprint can be a make or break.

The Weather

There will be some wind from the northeast with some intensity, but the day changes direction constantly so it's not exactly the best terrain for it to make a difference. The final kilometers and sprint should however have a relatively exposed crosswind from the right, hence teams will from early on try to take the left corner of the peloton and make for a tense finale.

The Favourites

Wout van Aert - The big question on van Aert lays on whether he will try to fight for this day, which should be a regular bunch sprint. The Belgian aims for stage wins on specific days, the time-trial was one of them. He'll have several opportunities where he won't have to risk a crash as is the case here, but with only 10 seconds to the yellow jersey of Küng he may have the goal of taking bonifications to reach it.

Tim Merlier - Merlier could be the biggest favourite for this victory, in my opinion. He usually does well on the opening day of the races, but also he comes in with a strong leadout. Bert van Lerberghe on the helm, Kasper Asgreen and Mauro Schmid will be key in the final kilometers, and very likely Remco Evenepoel will give a helping hand.

Kaden Groves - After showing his speed at the Giro d'Italia once again, Groves will be a big candidate for this finish. Pure speed in the final kilometers, the Australian has here a good opportunity to continue his streak of World Tour wins.

In this more pure sprint there will be some riders that will have better chances, when comparing to other days. BORA - hansgrohe's Jordi Meeus is certainly the main one to consider he does have the pure power to win on a day like this, as is the case with Arnaud Démare who recently won the Brussels Cycling Classic. Marius Mayrhofer and Dan McLay will be outsiders, whilst I'd say Peter Sagan also stands his best chances here.

Others will have better chances on some hillier days. Here we'll find Bryan Coquard, Biniam Girmay, Luca Mozzato, Clément Venturini and Ivan García Cortina, but nevertheless they will very likely try to be up there in the finale and fight for a strong result.

Prediction Tour de Suisse 2023 stage 2:

*** Tim Merlier, Kaden Groves
** Jordi Meeus, Wout van Aert, Arnaud Démare
* Bryan Coquard, Dan McLay, Marius Mayrhofer, Biniam Girmay, Peter Sagan

Pick: Tim Merlier