The Tour de Suisse 2026 marks the beginning of a new era in professional cycling. Women’s and men’s races will take place on the same day and at the same location, contested on circuit courses. This represents a global first, with no comparable format at international level to date. Another premiere follows: for the first time in its history, the Tour de Suisse will start in Italy.
A New Beginning
With a newly designed, compact race format, the Tour de Suisse 2026 sends a strong signal for innovation, interaction, and a modern presentation of international cycling.
For the first time, women’s and men’s races will be held on the same day and at the same venue. Starts and finishes will be located at the same place, with most stages raced on circuit courses. This concept strengthens sporting equality, increases proximity to fans, and creates optimal conditions for media coverage and local activations. At the same time, the Tour de Suisse 2026 combines tradition with international reach: the race will start for the first time in the Valtellina region and pass through three linguistic regions of Switzerland – a clear commitment to diversity and the Swiss identity of the Tour de Suisse.
The new format is unique within the UCI WorldTour: “This new format allows us to define each stage very clearly. We combine selective profiles, tactical variety and iconic landscapes – from alpine crossings to explosive finales. The stronger focus on circuits promises more interaction and more cycling for all spectators. With two races per day, the 2026 route will deliver sporting highlights every day,” says David Loosli, Sports Director of the Tour de Suisse.
Host Cities 2026
The Tour de Suisse 2026 deliberately focuses on characterful host cities that reflect the new compact format, the Swiss identity and the international orientation of the race. With an international start, a defining transition host city and an alpine finale, the key pillars of the route have been set. Further host cities will be announced as part of the official route presentation
Day 1: Start in Sondrio (ITA)
The Tour de Suisse 2026 will start in Sondrio, Valtellina (Italy). Historically, the region was closely connected to the canton of Graubünden for centuries – which is why Valtellina is still jokingly referred to as the “27th canton” today. Due to this cultural and geographical proximity, we are delighted to host the so-called “Grande Partenza” in Valtellina – a term describing the international start of a national tour.
Day 3: Bad Ragaz (SG)
Bad Ragaz has already hosted the Tour de Suisse on three occasions. In 2026, the municipality will serve as both the start and finish location of the third stage. Thanks to its geographical position, Bad Ragaz represents the transition from the alpine region to the Swiss lowlands.
Day 5: Villars-sur-Ollon (VD)
The grand finale will take place in Villars-sur-Ollon (VD). The mountain resort combines sporting tradition with an alpine setting and represents French-speaking Switzerland at the Tour de Suisse 2026. Sergei Aschwanden, Member of Parliament of the Canton of Vaud and former Olympic judoka, played a key role in making the finish possible: “Villars-sur-Ollon stands for performance, character and international appeal – values that perfectly match the Tour de Suisse. Hosting the final of the Tour de Suisse 2026 is a strong signal for sport and for the region.”
Top Riders at the Start
Top Riders at the Start As previously communicated, the Tour de Suisse 2026 is looking forward to a high caliber start list. With Tadej Pogačar (SLO) and Marlen Reusser (SUI), two of the most influential figures in international cycling will be on the start line. Further top female and male riders as well as WorldTour teams will be announced in the coming weeks.
