Profiles Tour de Suisse 2022

From the 12th to the 19th of June the World Tour peloton will have it's final preparation race before the Tour de France. Running at the same time as the Critérium du Dauphiné, the Tour de Suisse has tough competition, but every years the eight-stage race sees premier startlist and this year is no exception.

With eight stages on the menu, the climbers will be treated to a whole week of rough terrain which does not provide a single opportunity for pure sprinters. The opening five stages will be held in Switzerland's hills, whilst the final weekend will see two mountainous days and a final time-trial in Liechenstein.

The opening stage of the Tour de Suisse will see the puncheurs and climbers come to the fore. The final circuit has 45 kilometers in distance and will be ridden three times – although in reality, most of it is ridden four times, and it's main feature is the climb into Küsnachter Berg which features 2.7 kilometers at 8.2%, with it’s hardest gradients towards the center. It summits with 4.5 kilometers to go, and then a set of rolling roads will lead the riders into the finish line.

196 kilometers on the second day of racing at the Tour de Suisse, this one with a flatter start – with a relatively flat first half of the day. The second half will be tougher though. The ascent to Eichenberg in it’s 3 kilometers it features 7.5% average gradient will see further damage, whilst with 14.5 kilometers to go there will be the final ascent, the Challpass which features 6.2 kilometers at 6.2%. From there on an inconsistent descent will lead into the finale.

Third day of the race sees the peloton back on the hills, however this time with a different dynamic as the finale is more flat, but the first two thirds of the day are relatively hard. The day starts off with a difficult ascent, of the already ridden Eichenberg (3Km at 7.4%) which is likely to see a strong breakaway go up the road. The climbs with 120 (8.2Km; 4.5%), 110 (3.3Km; 8.8%) and 93.5 (5.4Km; 8.6%) kilometers to go will add to the fire. Another ascent with 61 (7.4Km; 4.9%) kilometers to go will be the last long ascent of the day, and the rolling roads that follow won’t be easy to chase but will also be easier to have an organized chase.

The final climbs come with 48 (2.4Km; 5.8%) and 16.5 (1.2Km; 6.2%) will not be as complicated, and are big-ring climbs which will then lead into the finish in Grenchen next to the velodrome.

Stage four will be an easier day, with a more flat presence, however an ascent with 3.6 kilometers at 7.9% average gradient, that summits with 15.5 kilometers to go, which sees a small plateau and then a very fast descent will lead the riders into the final 5 kilometers, where the streets won’t be technical, into a lakeside finale.

Stage five can be very tricky. The starts takes place in altitude and will lead the riders into a circuit that will be ridden three times, and has a distance of 28 kilometers with four small hills to tackle in it with descents after each one. The first comes with 20.5Km to go (in the final lap) and features 2Km at 5.1% to Castel San Pietro, and afterwards the riders will have a 1 kilometer at 8.6% gradient which is the most explosive of the ramps – with 14.5Km to go.

The hardest of the hilltops comes with 8.5 kilometers to go, it features 7.7% average gradient throughout 2.5 kilometer, a more constant effort however due to it’s proximity to the finish it may be chosen to attack. After a small and steep descent, there will then be a run-up to the final ascent which is 1.9 kilometers long at 5.8%, with some more gentle gradients towards the line.

The race enters the Alps, with a decisive stage. Before the categorized ascent of the Nufenenpass itself the riders will climb around 1000 meters, however then they find 13.6 kilometers at 7.8%. As for the final ascent, it's 17.8 kilometers in length and has 7.9% average gradient and is a climb that features tough gradients right from the base. There is no rest, it’s a very long ascent that will see the riders test their full climbing capabilities.

The final road stage of the race will be equally hard, and it is likely to be a day aswell decided in the final ascent. The riders will go up to almost 200 meters in altitude with a 29-kilometer Lukmanierpass. Over an hour of climbing with 5% average gradient, it can be the place where the breakaway will be established, summit with 125 kilometers to go.

The final climb is 12.5 kilometers long with 8.7% average gradient. An explosive climb at first with lots of hairpins towards Malbun ski station where the climbers will have the final opportunity to create the difference.

The final day of the race will see a time-trial fully within the territory of Liechenstein. It will have it’s start and finish in the capital town of Vaduz, with 25 kilometers in length with long sections where the specialists can really do the damage.