The Swiss Cycling Elite invite Record Holder and World Champion to the party
31. May 2022

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The 85th edition of the Tour de Suisse is fast approaching. The start of the men’s first stage is on Sunday 12th June in Küsnacht and the women begin their four-day tour on the following Saturday 18th June in Vaduz. Both events feature top-class cyclists. It’s time to present the top names and other news concerning the Tour de Suisse 2022.

Can Mäder fight for the Tour victory?
Gino Mäder (Bahrain Victorious) was convincing at the Tour de Romandie, where he finished second overall. Now he will line up at the Tour de Suisse 2022 and look to make his mark on the general classification: “I hope that I do better this year than last year in terms of the general classification. It’s a big goal to be among the leaders. But if it’s “only” a stage win, that wouldn’t be bad either,” says an ambitious Gino Mäder. Other Swiss riders such as Paris-Roubaix podium finisher Stefan Küng (Groupama – FDJ), last year’s stage winner Stefan Bissegger (EF Education-EasyPost) or the revitalised Marc Hirschi (UAE Team Emirates) are raising national hopes for a stage win.

On the international front a well-known figure is returning to the Swiss roads. The 17-time record stage winner Peter Sagan will compete in a new guise for Team Total Energies. “The Tour de Suisse is a beautiful race that I have the best memories of. Even if the climbs in the Swiss Alps sometimes seem to have no end. I want to do my best and try to get a strong result every day,” Sagan said about one of his favourite races. It will be exciting to see if the Slovakian can build on his past successes. With Adam Yates (Ineos Grenadiers), Jakob Fuglsang (Israel – Premier Tech) and Thibaut Pinot (Groupama – FDJ), experienced overall classification riders are also at the start. It remains to be seen whether youngsters like Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) and Liège-Bastogne-Liège winner Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) will chase stage wins or aim for the GC together with Gino Mäder against the seasoned pros.

The World Champion at the Start
With an attractive route and four new stages on the programme, the field of cyclists in the Tour de Suisse Women is particularly interesting. Team Trek-Segafredo has the current road World Champion, Elisa Balsamo. As the wearer of the rainbow jersey, she will certainly attract considerable attention. “My season so far has been exhausting but successful. As preparation for the Giro d’Italia Donne and the Tour de France Femmes, the Tour de Suisse is an important and challenging race. To get a stage win would be great,” says Balsamo. Another Italian and winner of the 2nd Tour de Suisse Women stage in 2021 is Marta Bastianelli (UAE Team ADQ). Can she repeat her stage win? Of course Dutch athletes have to be reckoned with in every race. Lucinda Brand (Trek-Segafredo), runner-up in the cyclo-cross World Championship, can not be overlooked.

On the Swiss side, the usual suspects are likely to play a role in the fight for stage wins and the General Classification. As a time trial specialist, Marlen Reusser, riding for the Swiss Cycling National Team, has her sights set firmly on the Time Trial in Vaduz. The Olympic Silver Medallist from Tokyo says: “The fact that the Tour de Suisse Women 2022 will include a Time Trial makes my heart beat faster. Time trials are quite rare on the Women’s Tour, so it’s particularly nice for me to contest one on home soil.” In addition, young Swiss cyclists like Noemi Rüegg (Jumbo Visma) plan to shake up the competition and impress with their bold performances. Joining Reusser at the start is the entire Olympic mountain bike podium from Tokyo. Jolanda Neff, Sina Frei and Linda Indergand are eager to give the road specialists a run for their money.

The definitive start lists will be posted on our website the evening before the start of each respective race.

An Attractive Route
“The eight-day men’s Tour de Suisse can be described without a doubt as one of the toughest in recent years,” says David Loosli, Sport Director, describing the 2022 circuit. In particular, the second stage to Aesch and the following stage through the Jura, along with the mountain climbs on the Moosalp and in Malbun, can be classified as very difficult. “On various stages, additional circuits are built in around the finish area. This enables spectators to see the Pros multiple times,” Loosli continues.

The situation in the women’s race is similarly appealing. Here, too, Loosli ventures a prediction: “After the rouleurs get their chance to shine on the first two days, the climbers will come into their own on the third and fourth stages.” The ultimate decision for the overall victory will most likely only be made on the Queen Stage to the Roland Arena in Lantsch/Lenz.

The final two hours of the men’s and the final 90 minutes of the women’s race will be broadcast live daily both nationally (SRF, RTS, RSI) and internationally (Eurosport and others).

A spectacle at the start – not only along the route
The 17-strong Organising Committee in Küsnacht, with around 400 volunteers, are preparing a spectacle with various activities before and throughout the first two stages of the Tour de Suisse. Headlining the entertainment is the Swiss Air Force jet aerobatic display team – Patrouille Suisse – performing their stunts over the Forch on Sunday 12th June prior to the start of the first stage. Plenty of entertainment is scheduled already on Friday and Saturday, with a concert by the Swiss pop group Pegasus and the Team Presentation of the male Pros. “Our goal is to provide a festival at the start of the Tour de Suisse that has something for everyone,” says Küsnacht Mayor Markus Ernst. For the entire program click here.

New TdS FanZone
Last year’s edition of the Tour de Suisse proved one thing: it’s not the same without fans by the roadside! Again this year we have exciting stages in store. During these stages we, and above all the cyclists, hope for an enthusiastic crowd lining the roads. So this year we are not only offering fans cycling at its highest level. Together with our fan engagement partner LivXp we proudly present the TdS FanZone and hope to bring cycling and fans closer together. The motto is: “Unforgettable memories for enthusiastic fans”. From waving the chequered flag to a signed jersey and everything in between! Click here for theFanZone.

#swisscyclingfamily presents the KOM/QOM Jersey
In top-level sport Swiss Cycling is the most successful Swiss summer sports federation. However in terms of the size of the movement there is still a way to go to reach the summit. The goal is to increase the number of members in order to be able to represent the interests of cyclists with more clout. With the Tour de Suisse starting in just under two weeks a membership campaign is being launched. “Ride, Join, Benefit” is the motto. For this reason, the #swisscyclingfamily will be part of the Tour de Suisse in the climbing classifications and on the KOM/QOM Leader’s jerseys. The award symbolises the aim of #swisscyclingfamily to reach new heights. “Anyone who decides to become a member is lending their support to cycling and contributing to the growing importance of cycling among the general public,” states Managing Director Thomas Peter.

The Road to the Women’s World Tour
This year the Tour de Suisse Women is listed on the calendar as a UCI Women’s Pro Series race with four stages for the first time. In 2023, the Tour is expected to move up to the UCI Women’s World Tour. “We are committed to constantly developing the Tour de Suisse Women and providing the best possible platform for women’s cycling in Switzerland,” says Tour Director Olivier Senn. Together with Swiss Cycling and #fastandfemalesui, the campaign “More than a Race” was launched for this reason. The aim is to increase the profile of professional women cyclists. The campaign also aims to inspire more women to take up cycling.

For the women’s races, ACTYVO, an innovative cycling app, was also found as a data partner. In addition to their passion for cycling, the TdS Women and ACTYVO share important attributes: Competition, outdoor racing, timing, preparation and the goal of being at the top of the rankings. With the new outdoor cycling app “You vs. Anybody” you can compare yourself with other road cyclists worldwide over a predefined distance.

For queries:
Tour de Suisse Media Office
Ueli Anken
[email protected]
Tel. +41 79 638 18 18

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