The Tour de Suisse has been won by some of the biggest names in cycling in recent years.
Levi Leipheimer (Omega Pharma-QuickStep), Frank Schleck (Radioshack-Nissan-Trek) and Fabian Cancellara (Radioshack-Nissan-Trek) are the three most recent winners, and all three will contest this year’s race, which starts in Lugano tomorrow (Saturday June 9).
For Leipheimer and Cancellara, the defending champion and 2009 winner respectively, the race represents the next step on the road to full recovery.
Leipheimer was injured in a car accident the day before the Tour of the Basque Country in April and returned to competition at last month’s Tour of California, where he finished sixth overall.
Cancellara famously fell and broke his collarbone during April’s Tour of Flanders and will hope to build on his low key return last month at Bayern-Rundfahrt.
Elsewhere among the field, contenders could include 2008 winner Roman Kreuziger (Astana), Damiano Cunego (Lampre-ISD), who rode strongly in last month’s Giro d’Italia, and veteran Stuart O’Grady (Orica-GreenEDGE).
Omega Pharma-QuickStep seem to have the strongest team, with Tom Boonen, Gert Steegmans and Niki Terpstra among those likely to ride in support of Leipheimer.
Here’s a look at the terrain the peloton will encounter over the next nine days.
Saturday June 9
Stage 1: Lugano (7.3km) – individual time trial – mixed
In what is becoming a tradition, the Tour de Suisse will open with an individual time trial in the southern border town of Lugano. The riders will head for the hills at the city limits, climb, and descend back into the city centre.
Sunday June 10
Stage 2: Verbiana to Verbier (218km) – high mountains
This year’s race could ignite on only the second stage, one that includes two hors catégorie climbs: the 2,000 metre Simplonpass and the summit finish at Verbier, an ascent that will be familiar to riders who tackled the 2009 Tour de France.
Monday June 11
Stage 3: Martigny to Aarberg (194km) – mixed
A day, perhaps, for the sprinters who can survive the early climbs of the stage and arrive in good shape for the dénouement: a category four climb and a descent in Aarberg. A rider who can power up low level climbs, descend without fear, and who holds a big enough kick to win a sprint could triumph today. Oscar Freire, perhaps?
Tuesday June 12
Stage 4: Aarberg to Trimbach (189km) – mixed
The Scheltenpass is the only feature of note on today’s parcours, a climb reached before the mid-point of the stage and therefore unlikely to be tackled with any real intent by the GC contenders and their teams; it could be used as a launch pad for an ambitious breakaway but the odds would be stacked against riders brave enough to make the attempt. A more likely battleground is to be found in the rolling terrain towards the end of the stage. The final climb is crested less than 20km from the finish. Riders who escape on the ascent will need to hold off a charging peloton on the flat run to the finish.
Wednesday June 13
Stage 5: Trimbach to Gansingen (193km) – mixed
An intensely undulating stage of six category three climbs will test the legs of riders at the midpoint of this nine stage race. A long drag to the finish line in Gansingen could provide another opportunity for the strongmen. Boonen, Cancellara, Friere et al may have stage five circled in their diaries.
Thursday June 14
Stage 6: Wittnau to Bischofszell TG (199km) – mixed
A day of short ascents (five categorised climbs in total), ending with a short rise in to Schocherswil, a spring board perhaps for an aggressive rider strong enough to hold off a the sprinters’ henchmen on the third and final entry to Bischofszell.
Friday June 15
Stage 7: Gossau ZH (34.3km) – individual time trial
The second of two time trials, a good time over this diverse 34.3km race against the clock will test those with ambitions for overall victory. The stage begins with a climb to the first time check at Pfannenstiel at just over 11km. The following descent leads into a rolling final section that will suit the strongmen.
Saturday June 16
Stage 8: Bischofszell TG to Arosa (148km) – high mountains
A stage laden with climbs in the second half could provide the second battleground in two days for the men with serious ambitions for GC. The final climb is two-fold, with two climbs separated by a draining section of false flat before the road turns skywards for the closing 5km.
Sunday June 17
Stage 9: Nafels-Lintharena to Sorenberg (216km) – high mountains
Placing the Queen Stage on the final day suggests a certain cruelty among the commissaires. With little more than 100km of the race remaining, the riders will fight their way up two hors catégorie climbs. Sprinters and those not in contention for GC will be pleased to see the end of the is stage, and with it the race. Riders vying for overall triumph, however, will sense a final opportunity for victory on the cimbs of the Glaubenbielen and the Glaubenberg.
