In this report we follow Stephan Herzog, responsible for the Finish Area of the Tour de Suisse, during the construction of the finish infrastructure on the Gotthard Pass at last year’s Tour de Suisse. He provides exciting insights behind the scenes and shows how challenging tasks are solved by the team.
The cobblestone road is flanked by metres of snow. The summit of the Gotthard Pass is shrouded in thick fog. Night has already fallen as a convoy of heavy trucks reaches Switzerland’s most historic Alpine pass. The “Finish Team” set off from Lake Zurich a few hours earlier and will now position their vehicles on the Gotthard before heading to their accommodation to rest.
The next morning at 7am, Stephan Herzog (Head of the Finish Area) gathers his team for a briefing. They receive instructions on how and where the finish area is to be set up over the next few hours. Equipped with a site plan on his iPad, Herzog goes through the special features of the location. “The team is well-rehearsed and well-coordinated – and yet every destination brings new challenges,” says Herzog, who has been part of the Tour de Suisse family for two years.
Stephan Herzog – Head of the Finish Area at the Tour de Suisse
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Construction at 2,091 metres above sea level
In June 2024 the challenges on the Gotthard Pass primarily related to the considerable amount of snow still present, as well as the limited space available. The local Organising Committee had been briefed in advance to understand the requirements for the site. These included for example the positioning of the Media Centre and the supply of electricity. ”The Ticino authorities and the local OC also did a great job in terms of clearing the snow,” says Stephan Herzog, praising those responsible on site.
Herzog has a lot to coordinate throughout the day: “In total, almost 100 people are involved in the set-up, split into different areas.” The “Tour de Suisse Finish Team” works hand in hand with the staff from Swiss Television, the local OCs and members of the Civilian Service.
Snapshots of the work on site:
- Near the three-metre-high snow wall directly in front of the Gotthard Memorial, two men measure the wind strength to confirm if it is possible to construct the Finish Arch given the weather and wind conditions.
- Parallel to the Finish Arch, a large trailer housing the timekeeping equipment and the TV commentators’ booth is installed. The backstage area for the podium ceremony and infrastructure for the TV studio are set up in the immediate vicinity of the finish line.
- Barrier fencing with advertising banners are erected along the 500 metres leading up to the Finish Arch. The multi-storey VIP trailer with catering is positioned in the last 100 metres before the finish.
Impressions from the finish area
“After a hearty lunch we get down to the detailed work. For example, furnishing the VIP area, positioning TV cameras or signposting the finish area,” says Stephan Herzog. Not long after the final touches have been made the Speaker announces the race’s progress and spectators along the finishing straight are put in the mood for the grand finale.
With the peloton climbing the pass, Stephan Herzog’s team can take a short breather – before all the work begins all over again once the stage is over.
