The Tour de Suisse holds a pivotal position as one of the premier stage races of the year, serving as the final major test before the Tour de France. From June 9th to 16th, this eight-day race in Switzerland attracts some of the Tour's top contenders. With its challenging terrain including mountainous stages, time trials, and opportunities for classics specialists, the race promises thrilling competition. Let's preview stage 5 of this prestigious event.
146 kilometers on the menu but a crazy hard day, with an unusual profile. A 5-kilometer climb at 9% is featured right at the start of the day, where a very strong group can be formed. This is a steep ascent where there will certainly be a lot of riders struggling if the pace is hard. The riders will have to be on the rollers before the start of the stage, adding to a bit more fatigue. This climb is summited with just 7 kilometers of racing.
But shortly after is an even more difficult and steep one. The riders climb to Carì for the first time. The climb is 8.8 kilometers long at 9.2% and ends with only 31 kilometers of racing. Hence, it comes with 135 kilometers to go, so it should be too far to go on an all-out attack, but it can certainly do some damage.
The riders then descend what they will climb to end the stage. A very technical and difficult descent, which in bad weather can be disastrous for those who are not confident on the bike. But what follows are around 70 kilometers of flat roads within the valley, doing a small loop before returning to the bottom of the ascent.
There are some slight uphill gradients before the final climb, but the fireworks will all come when the riders begin to climb to Carí again - but through a different side. 21 hairpins, the exact amount as the Alpe d'Huez, and the climb's characteristics are very very similar. 11.6 kilometers at 8%, it's an ascent that will be very difficult and allows for attacks quite a bit. Massive differences can be created en route to the ski station.
The Weather
Prediction Tour de Suisse 2024 stage 5:
*** Adam Yates
** Mattias Skjelmose, João Almeida, Egan Bernal
* Enric Mas, Felix Gall, Cian Uijtdebroeks, Oscar Onley, Matthew Riccitello, Wilco Kelderman, Valentin Paret-Peintre, Lenny Martínez
Pick: Adam Yates
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