PREVIEW | Tour de Suisse 2024 stage 3 - Can Arnaud De Lie take vengeance on hilly and explosive finale?
Cycling
The Tour de Suisse holds a prominent position among the year's stage races, serving as the ultimate test before the Tour de France. From June 9th to 16th, this eight-day event in Switzerland attracts several stars of the Tour, featuring challenging mountain stages, time trials, and opportunities for classics specialists. Let's preview stage 3 of the race.
An incredibly explosive day towards the end. This is a stage that resembles the Ardennes, and will certainly be very interesting for the spectators. In Steinmaur, the riders start a 162-kilometer day on the bike which is mostly flat in it's majority but then faces quite a few hills in the final 40 kilometers - none categorized. The first of which is 4.1 kilometers at 5.2% summiting with 32 kilometers to go, but it will be a mere warm-up.
Stage 2: Steinmaur - Rüschlikon, 162.8 kilometers
A possible key point of the stage is the quick sequence of two medium-difficulty ascents that follow, already close to the finish. They are 3Km at 6.7% (14Km to go) and 2.4Km at 5.8% (9Km to go). Right after their summit comes a short and steep descent, not very technical, that leaves the riders with a mere 3 kilometers to go.
But the way into the finish line is not flat nor simple. There is a small hilltop that goes up to 8% that ends with around 2 kilometers to go. Then, after a sharp corner, the riders face the final hilltop into the finish which is only 800 meters long but averages 7.7%. An interesting finish, where a lot can happen.
The Map
Map Tour de Suisse 2024 stage 2
Prediction Tour de Suisse 2024 stage 2:
*** Arnaud De Lie, Michael Matthews
** Bryan Coquard, Maxim van Gils, Axel Laurance
* Stephen Williams, Tom Pidcock, Alberto Bettiol, Marc Hirschi, Mattias Skjelmose, Rui Costa, Richard Carapaz, Finn Fisher-Black, Kévin Vauquelin, Brandon Rivera
** Bryan Coquard, Maxim van Gils, Axel Laurance
* Stephen Williams, Tom Pidcock, Alberto Bettiol, Marc Hirschi, Mattias Skjelmose, Rui Costa, Richard Carapaz, Finn Fisher-Black, Kévin Vauquelin, Brandon Rivera
Pick: Michael Matthews
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Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
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- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
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- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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10 more days and race action of the 2024 Tour de Suisse starts in Vaduz🫶🚴Check out the first rider names on our website! . #tds2024 #tourdesuisse #tourdesuissewomen
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