The Tour de Suisse is where Grand Tour contenders test their climbing legs and time-trial form in the final weeks before July.
The Tour de Suisse is a men's WorldTour stage race held each June in Switzerland. First run in 1933, it delivers Alpine climbing, time trialing, and technical descents across multiple days, making it one of the most complete tests of stage-racing form on the calendar.
Also known as: TdS | Tour de Suisse
Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Miguel Indurain, and Jan Ullrich all won here on their way to Tour de France success.
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This is the last serious altitude block before the Tour de France, and it attracts riders who need high-mountain race days more than they need rest. The Swiss Alps reward power, descending skill, and the ability to recover overnight across consecutive hard stages. The time trial separates the pure climbers from the complete stage racers, and the route offers little room to hide. It is also one of the final chances to see how the biggest names are actually riding before they enter Grand Tour lockdown, making it a reliable indicator of July form.
The race is decided in the mountains and against the clock, with at least two or three summit finishes or high-altitude stages where climbers can gain meaningful time. One individual time trial typically separates the all-rounders from the specialists, and the opening days often include rolling or flat stages that favor sprinters or breakaway riders before the GC battle begins in earnest. Descending skill matters as much as climbing power: Swiss roads are narrow, technical, and unforgiving, and time gaps open on the way down as often as on the way up. The race rewards riders who can sustain form across a full week without cracking, making it a proving ground for Tour readiness rather than a warm-up formality.
Eight-day stage race through Switzerland, one of the two major June prep races before the Tour de France.
Long Swiss alpine passes combined with summit finishes test pure climbing ability and time-trial strength.
The Tour de Suisse traditionally includes a significant individual time trial that can reshape the GC before the mountains.
Mid-June, running parallel or close to the Dauphine. Together they form the final altitude tests before July.
Most recent winner: Joao Almeida
Egan Bernal won the Tour de Suisse and then went on to win the Tour de France weeks later, at just 22 years old.
Geraint Thomas followed his Giro d'Italia podium with a Tour de Suisse victory, demonstrating consistency across the June stage races.
Mattias Skjelmose became the first Danish winner, overcoming established GC riders in the mountains to win at just 22.
Two victories for the Swiss champion in the 1950s, when the race was a showcase for Swiss cycling at the highest level.
Two victories in 2004 and 2006, using the race as Tour de France preparation during his rivalry with Lance Armstrong.
Won the 2009 edition on the strength of his time trial, showing the race rewards more than just climbing.
His 2019 victory preceded a Tour de France win by weeks, reinforcing the race's value as a Grand Tour proving ground.
The Swiss Alps provide the highest and longest climbs on the pre-Tour calendar.
Switzerland's most famous alpine crossing, occasionally used to create decisive mountain stages.
A modern summit finish above the Walensee that has decided multiple recent editions.
A long, steady alpine pass in the heart of Switzerland that tests endurance and altitude tolerance.
A summit finish above the Rhone Valley used in recent years as the decisive climbing test.
