The Sustenpass remains closed. That is why the royal stage of the 83rd Tour de Suisse on Sunday has to be rerouted. The new route is equal to the planned original in terms of attractiveness: Nufenen – Gotthard – Furka. The distance is 101.5 kilometres with a total of 3063 metres in altitude. The start in Ulrichen is scheduled for 13.10 hrs on Sunday 23 June.
The Sustenpass remains closed. That is why the royal stage of the 83rd Tour de Suisse on Sunday has to be rerouted. The new route is equal to the planned original in terms of attractiveness: Nufenen – Gotthard – Furka. The distance is 101.5 kilometres with a total of 3063 metres in altitude. The start in Ulrichen is scheduled for 13.10 hrs on Sunday 23 June.
This afternoon, Roger Nager, head of the construction department of Uri, has informed that the Susten Pass will remain closed for security reasons. According to a media release by the authorities in Uri, the opening works on the Susten Pass (2224 m above sea level) have been in full swing for weeks. As Stefan Bucheli, Head of the Cantonal Roads Operations Department explains, several danger spots are constantly monitored. “But safety first. However, because we cannot guarantee this to a sufficient degree, opening up at the present time would be negligent”, says Stefan Bucheli. A reassessment of a possible opening date will take place early next week. At Nufenenpass, the winter closure will be lifted on Thursday, 20 June at 8 a.m.
The tour management has been in regular contact with the cantonal authorities for weeks. Today, together with the cantons of Valais, Ticino, Uri and Berne, it has cleaned up the new route. Thus, instead of the classic Alpine carousel Furka – Susten – Grimsel, the king’s stage on Sunday will lead over the southern variant with Nufenen – Gotthard – Furka. The historic tremolo course will thus receive double tour honours after the finish on Friday. The new track is 42.9 kilometres shorter than the original, with a height difference of around 900 metres.
With the change of route, the Tour de Suisse offers the riders and the public an unexpected highlight: at 2478 metres above sea level, the Nufenen Pass is the highest pass on Swiss soil that can be travelled on. The road was opened on 5 September 1969 after a five-year construction period. The winner of the mountain award will celebrate the 50th anniversary in a fitting manner.
Further information:
Sustenpass: The construction management recommends to check the road condition before every pass. www.ur.ch/strasseninfos
Media contact: Stefan Bucheli, Head of the Cantonal Roads Operations Department, Phone +41 41 875 2697
Tour de Suisse: Ueli Anken, Head of Media Service, telephone +41 79 638 1818, www.tourdesuisse.ch
