What Is the Tour de Suisse?
The Tour de Suisse is one of professional cycling’s most prestigious stage races, serving as a key preparatory event for the Tour de France. Part of the UCI WorldTour calendar, the race takes riders through Switzerland’s spectacular alpine landscapes, testing their climbing ability, time trialling and tactical prowess across a series of demanding stages.
The 2026 edition marks a significant evolution for the Tour de Suisse, which has been reimagined in a new five-day format. For the first time, the men’s and women’s races will run in parallel, with both genders racing daily at the same venues. This makes it the first UCI WorldTour stage race to achieve full gender parity in its scheduling, a landmark moment for professional cycling.
When Is the Tour de Suisse?
The 89th Tour de Suisse takes place from Wednesday 17 June to Sunday 21 June 2026. The condensed five-day format replaces the previous eight-day structure, creating a more intense and appealing race that fits better alongside the build-up to the Tour de France in July.
Where Is the Tour de Suisse?
The 2026 route starts in Sondrio, in Italy’s Valtellina region, before crossing into Switzerland. Key host cities include Bad Ragaz (Canton St. Gallen), which serves as both the start and finish of the third stage, and the grand finale at Villars-sur-Ollon in Canton Vaud. Villars-sur-Ollon, a mountain resort in the Swiss Alps, provides a dramatic setting for the race’s climax, combining sporting tradition with a stunning alpine backdrop. The route showcases both German-speaking and French-speaking regions of Switzerland.
Key Contenders
The 2026 Tour de Suisse features a headline entry that underlines its status as the premier Tour de France warm-up event. Tadej Pogacar, widely regarded as the best cyclist in the world, will make his Tour de Suisse debut as he prepares for a bid to win a record-equalling fifth Tour de France in July. Pogacar’s presence alone elevates the race to must-watch status.
On the women’s side, Swiss star Marlen Reusser headlines the field, competing on home roads in front of her own fans. The parallel scheduling of men’s and women’s races ensures both fields receive equal visibility and attention.
Beyond the headline names, the Tour de Suisse traditionally attracts a deep field of general classification contenders, climbers, sprinters and time triallists, all using the race to fine-tune their form ahead of the Tour de France.
How to Watch
The Tour de Suisse receives extensive television coverage across Europe. In Switzerland, SRF, RTS and RSI broadcast the race in the country’s three main languages. Eurosport and discovery+ provide coverage across Europe, while GCN+ offers streaming worldwide. In the United Kingdom, Eurosport and ITV4 typically carry live stages. Check local listings for specific broadcast details in your territory.
History and Records
The Tour de Suisse was first held in 1933, making it one of the oldest stage races in cycling. Past winners read like a hall of fame of the sport, including Eddy Merckx, Hugo Koblet, Ferdi Kubler, Jan Ullrich and Egan Bernal. The race has long been considered the ideal final test before the Tour de France, and many riders who perform well at the Tour de Suisse go on to excel in July. The 2026 edition’s shift to a five-day format represents the most significant change in the race’s nine-decade history, designed to increase its appeal to top riders and broadcasters alike.
Tickets and Attendance
One of the great traditions of professional cycling is that roadside spectating is free. Fans can position themselves along the route to watch the peloton pass through Switzerland’s towns, villages and mountain passes at no cost. Start and finish areas at each stage may have ticketed zones for premium viewing and hospitality. The official Tour de Suisse website publishes detailed route maps and stage profiles to help spectators plan the best viewing locations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the Tour de Suisse been shortened to five days?
The new five-day format is designed to attract the world’s top riders, many of whom previously skipped the eight-day race to manage their workload before the Tour de France. The compressed schedule allows contenders like Pogacar to race competitively while preserving their fitness for July.
How does the parallel men’s and women’s racing work?
Each day features two stages, one for men and one for women, starting and finishing at the same venue. This is the first time a UCI WorldTour stage race has run both genders on the same day at the same locations, giving equal platform and visibility to both races.
Is the Tour de Suisse part of the UCI WorldTour?
Yes. The Tour de Suisse is a UCI WorldTour event, the highest tier of professional cycling. It carries significant ranking points and attracts the sport’s top teams and riders.
Can I watch the race for free from the roadside?
Yes. Like most professional road cycling events, the Tour de Suisse is free to watch from the roadside. Fans simply need to find a spot along the published route and wait for the peloton to pass. Mountain stages and summit finishes tend to attract the largest crowds.