Preview of the 2024 Tour of Switzerland | Climbers' edition in honor of Gino Mäder

As the Critérium du Dauphiné in France wraps up, the Tour of Switzerland kicks off nearby in Liechtenstein. In this mountainous country, the organizers have once again designed a very challenging course, dedicated to Gino Mäder, who passed away last year. IDLProCycling.com tells you everything you need to know!

Last year, the Tour of Switzerland was marked by the tragic death of one of the country's top cyclists, Gino Mäder. The Swiss rider fell during a descent and ultimately did not survive. In honor of the beloved cyclist, his race number will no longer be assigned to any other rider, and the highest point of the upcoming editions will be dedicated to Mäder.

Mattias Skjelmose managed to win last year's Tour of Switzerland, and this season, as the defending champion, he aims to repeat his success. The Dane will have to contend with a host of other climbers traveling to Vaduz, where this year's race will start.

Latest winners Tour of Switzerland

2023 Mattias Skjelmose
2022 Geraint Thomas
2021 Richard Carapaz
2020 Not ridden
2019 Egan Bernal
2018 Richie Porte
2017 Simon Spilak
2016 Miguel Angel Lopez
2015 Simon Spilak
2014 Rui Costa

Tour of Switzerland 2024: Course, climbs, favorites for stage wins and times

Prologue, Sunday, June 9: Vaduz - Vaduz (4.8 km)

The Tour of Switzerland kicks off with a 4.77-kilometer prologue in Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein. It's a short effort, so riders will likely need to warm up thoroughly for this time trial!

Climbs
None.

Favorites
Ethan Hayter (INEOS Grenadiers)
Stefan Bissegger (EF Education-EasyPost)
Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ)

Times
Start: 2:08 PM
Finish: 5:00 PM

Stage 1, Monday, June 10: Vaduz - Regensdorf (177.6 km)

On day two, the riders face the first road stage from Vaduz to Regensdorf. Approaching the finish, they will tackle the punchy Regenberg climb, measuring 3.5 kilometers at 6.0%.

Climbs
42.1 km: Kerenzerberg (5.8 km at 5.0%)
74.3 km: Ricken (6.1 km at 6.0%)
167.1 km: Regenberg (3.5 km at 6.0%)

Favorites
Tom Pidcock (INEOS Grenadiers)
Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost)
Thibau Nys (Lidl-Trek)

Times
Start: 12:45 PM
Finish: 5:00 PM

Stage 2, Tuesday, June 11: Steinmaur - Rüschlikon (161.7 km)

Stage two features another day for the bold and strong-legged riders. In the final quarter towards the finish in Rüschlikon, they must overcome significant elevation gains, ending on a sloping section of seven hundred meters at 7.1 percent.

Climbs
128.3 km: Oberwil (2.9 km at 6.0%)
146.0 km: Auegst am Albis (2.6 km at 7.0%)
151.2 km: Albispass (1.8 km at 6.0%)

Favorites
Marc Hirschi (UAE-Team Emirates)
Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek)
Oscar Onley (dsm-firmenich PostNL)

Times
Start: 1:10 PM
Finish: 5:00 PM

Stage 3, Wednesday, June 12: Rüschlikon - San Gottardo (170.9 km)

Midway through the race, we venture into the high mountains for the first time, with a finish on the renowned Gotthard Pass. The summit of this pass is reached after a relatively flat stage, culminating in the twin climbs of Schöllenen (4.5 km at 8.0%) and finally the Gotthard Pass (8.1 km at 7.0%).

Climbs
5.3 km: Albispass (3.3 km at 7.0%)
156.9 km: Schöllenen (4.5 km at 8.0%)
170.9 km: Gotthardpass (8.1 km at 7.0%)

Favorites
Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers)
Cian Uijtdebroeks (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious)

Times
Start: 12:30 PM
Finish: 5:00 PM

Stage 4, Thursday, June 13: Amrbi - Cari (148.6 km)

Another tough mountain stage, but a relatively short one: over 148 kilometers, the riders must conquer the daunting Cari climb twice. First from one side, 7.6 kilometers at 10.0%, then towards the finish from the other side: 10.5 kilometers at 8.1%.

Climbs
8.7 km: Ronco (5.9 km at 7.1%)
31.3 km: Cari (7.6 km at 10.0%)
147.6 km: Cari (10.5 km at 8.1%)

Favorites
Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek)
Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost)
Jao Almeida (UAE-Team Emirates)

Times
Start: 1:05 PM
Finish: 5:00 PM

Stage 5, Friday, June 14: Locarno - Blatten-Belalp (151.4 km)

The fifth stage is still highly uncertain. Due to snowfall, the Nufenen Pass will not be accessible in the short term. The organizers are contemplating a new plan, with two options: either diverting the stage through the Furka Pass and the Gotthard Pass or significantly shortening the stage.

Climbs
94.4 km: Nufenenpass (24.4 km at 6.0%)
150.1 km: Blatten (6.0 km at 8.0%)

Favorites
Wout Poels (Bahrain Victorious)
Emanuel Buchmann (BORA-hansgrohe)
Lenny Martinez (Groupama-FDJ)

Times
Start: 12:00 PM
Finish: 4:00 PM

Stage 6, Saturday, June 15: Villars Sur-Ollon - Villars-Sur-Ollon (118.2 km)

The final weekend of the Tour of Switzerland focuses on Villars-sur-Ollon, where both the penultimate and final stages will finish. Given the location of this mountain village, it's no surprise that we are treated to another mountain stage, starting and finishing in the same place with an added loop over the Col de la Croix (3.8 km at 8.8%).

Climbs
7.7 km: Col de la Croix (3.8 km at 8.8%)
57.3 km: Villars-sur-Ollon (7.9 km at 7.7%)
67.1 km: Col de la Croix (3.8 km at 8.8%)
118.2 km: Villars-sur-Ollon (7.9 km at 7.7%)

Favorites
Enric Mas (Movistar)
Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers)
Lenny Martinez (Groupama-FDJ)

Times
Start: 2:20 PM
Finish: 5:30 PM

Stage 7, Sunday, June 16: Aigle - Villars-sur-Ollon (15.7 km)

The final stage starts at the UCI center in Aigle and climbs fifteen kilometers to Villars-sur-Ollon, appropriately concluding this edition of the Tour of Switzerland.

Climbs
15.7 km: Villars-sur-Ollon (10.2 km at 8.0%)

Favorites
Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek)
Joao Almeida (UAE-Team Emirates)
Isaac del Toro (UAE-Team Emirates)

Times
Start: 1:38 PM
Finish: 5:00 PM

Favorites general classification Tour of Switzerland 2024

The Tour of Switzerland sets off with the defending champion as the top favorite. Mattias Skjelmose from Lidl-Trek had a strong start to the year but didn't quite deliver in his favored Ardennes classics. The young Dane now heads to Switzerland with a powerhouse team, including Patrick Konrad, Sam Oomen, Bauke Mollema, and Thibau Nys.

Contenders are certainly on the lookout, with many teams bringing their climbers to Switzerland due to the route's configuration. Movistar counts on the trio of Nairo Quintana, Einer Rubio, and Enric Mas, the latter preparing for the Tour after his teammates tackled the Giro. UAE-Team Emirates fields Joao Almeida, Adam Yates, and the young Isaac del Toro, positioning them as one of the teams to beat.

EF Education-EasyPost brings their full Tour de France squad, centered around Richard Carapaz. INEOS Grenadiers competes with Egan Bernal and Tom Pidcock in Switzerland, the latter sticking around for a mountain bike event afterward.

Then we're not there yet. For example, Visma | Lease a Bike is back with Wilco Kelderman and Cian Uijtdebroeks, two riders making their return after a collarbone fracture and illness, respectively. Bahrain Victorious will also start this forever special race highly motivated, with Wout Poels and Pello Bilbao as intended leaders.

Be sure to also keep an eye on young French riders Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa - B&B Hotels) and especially Lenny Martinez (Groupama-FDJ). Furthermore, we jot down outsiders such as Sergio Higuita, Emanuel Buchmann (BORA-hansgrohe), Aurélien Paret-Peintre (Decathlon AG2R), William Junior Lecerf (Soudal Quick-Step), Oscar Onley (dsm-firmenich PostNL), Matthew Riccitello, Stephen Williams (Israel-Premier Tech) and Maxim Van Gils (Lotto-Dstny). 

According to IDLProCyclin.com who are the favorites for the final classification of the Tour of Switzerland 2024?

Top favorites: Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) and Enric Mas (Movistar)
Outsiders:Jao Almeida (UAE-Team Emirates), Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers), Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) and Lenny Martinez (Groupama-FDJ)
Long shots: Isaac del Toro (UAE-Team Emirates), Wilco Kelderman, Cian Uijtdebroeks (Visma | Lease a Bike), Emanuel Buchmann (BORA-hansgrohe), Wout Poels, Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious), Tom Pidcock (INEOS Grenadiers), Einer Rubio (Movistar), Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa - B&B Hotels)

TV Tour of Switzerland 2024

The Tour of Switzerland can be followed daily this year via Eurosport, which will provide live coverage on its main channel as well as online platforms Discovery+ and Eurosport.nl.