tour de ski final climb 2022

Klæbo Wins Second Tour de Ski; Røthe Reigns on Alpe Cermis, Ketterson 48th

We began this year’s coverage of the Men’s Tour de Ski with a prelude from 5 time Tour de France champion Bernard Hinault. So let us begin this coda with him as well.

On the cycling classic Paris-Roubaix, “the hell of the north” – famous for its cobblestones, and the mud, blood, sweat, and tears they bring – Hinault said in 1981, “[It’s] bulls**t.” He had just won the race.

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo (NOR) may feel the same about a certain climb in Val di Fiemme, Italy he continues to find himself on year-after-year at the end of the Tour de Ski.

Even among cross-country skiers and ski fans (admittedly, a Venn diagram that is nearly a singular circle), the final 10-kilometer stage of the Tour de Ski, and its roughly 3-kilometer, 28% gradient pitch-including climb up the Alpe Cermis , seems like a stupid proposition. We love skiing because it juxtaposes the brilliance and pure white benevolence of winter with the brutality, the pure push, the goddamn slog that fighting through it on a pair of skis can be. The Alpe – well – it piles onto the latter without balancing it with the former. We watch and look and say to ourselves why? But in piling on the pain, and the pure difficulty, the Alpe enters an uncanny valley as deep and awe-inspiring as its climb is high and mighty.

In short, why the Alpe? It’s masochistic, and it’s the most beautiful race in the world.

You don’t have to look any further than Klæbo’s history on the climb to tell you so. The Norwegian, with an opportunity to surpass none other than Bjørn Dæhlie himself for career Individual World Cup wins with a win in today’s stage (as it stood before the start, the two were tied at 46 apiece), has had both triumph and tribulation on the Alpe in previous editions of the Tour. In his first climb up the Alpe 2018/19, he came across the line in first after a pursuit start, becoming the youngest ever winner of the Tour de Ski. In his last climb up the Alpe in 2019/2020, he lost a one second advantage he carried into the day, consequently losing the Tour to Alexander Bolshunov (RUS).

This time around, his task was simpler. Instead of the 1 second advantage he had on Bolshunov in 19/20, he carried exactly two minutes over the Russian going into a mass start today. No need to be first to the top; all he would have to do was stick to the red suits of Alexander Bolshunov and his Russian teammates.

When the field, which remained compact throughout the approach, hit the bottom of the Alpe Cermis, Klæbo was doing exactly that. Alexey Chervotkin (RUS) had led the pack through most of the first six k, which followed the flow of the river valley, with his fellow countrymen Bolshunov, Ivan Yakimushkin (RUS), and Denis Spitsov (RUS) close behind. Also slotted within the field was the only American left to start today’s race, Zak Ketterson.

The animating move as the terrain kicked up, however, came from Iivo Niskanen (FIN), who went into the day in third place (+2:49) in the Tour standings, and was looking to maintain his place on the podium. 

At the 7.5k checkpoint, Niskanen led a pack that resembled a cell in mitosis – stretched, but not yet split into packs with lives of their own. Less than a second behind him was a familiar sight, Sjur Røthe (NOR), who had previously won on the Alpe during his last ascent in 2019. Klæbo crossed the checkpoint in fifth place, with Bolshunov in sixth. Ketterson, meanwhile, was in the pack that followed – coming across in 26th place (+15.9).

The decisive pitch came shortly after the checkpoint. At a 26% section, Sjur Røthe’s attack was less a thrilling burst of energy than a confident crawl away from the pack. He created a gap, and looked to be set to face the last 1.6k of the climb alone.

That was, of course, until another face familiar to the Alpe slowly crawled out of the pack too. Last year’s hill climb winner , Denis Spitsov (RUS), skied up to Røthe , setting up a two-way battle that had, as Røthe didn’t race the Tour last year, been two years in the making.

The chase group that included Klæbo, Bolshunov, and Niskanen stayed together passed the 24% gradient. Niskanen, though, soon started to show signs that he was about to crack. When his V1 finally gave way to a coach’s skate, it was in one of the hairpins set-up to ease the gradient on the skiers. He brought, for a split second, the chase group to a complete pause. Bolshunov, who was the second skier behind Niskanen, was caught up for a moment, which allowed Klæbo to shoot to the outside and overtake both of them.

Niskanen faded, but Bolshunov now had to expend energy to stay up with Klæbo, who some 1.2k out from the finishing line was showing a resolve on the Alpe that he hadn’t in his previous ascents.

So it had broken into a race of sub-races. The lead group with Røthe and Spitsov, gunning for the stage win. The chase group, 20 seconds off, looking to decide the overall of this year’s Tour de Ski.

When the Alpe finally, impossibly, gave way to gradients that were in the single-digits, Røthe proved the Puncheur over Spitsov. His V1 gave way to a V2 that still somehow maintained some grace to it, and he came across the blue line painted in the snow at the top of the Alpe a champion again. Spitsov, not losing sight of the Røthe, crossed the line in second (+2.4).

The chase group meanwhile, was now being led by two skiers wearing suits not seen near the front of a Men’s World Cup so far this season. Indeed, it was two young Germans, Friedrich Moch and Lucas Bögl , who were pulling Klæbo and Bolshunov through the final moments of this year’s Tour. When the terrain gave way, Moch took it one step farther, gapping the field to claim his first individual World Cup podium in 3rd place (+18.9), and becoming the first German man to podium at a World Cup since Tim Tscharnke in 2015 (also in Val Di Fiemme).

Then, 15 seconds later, the Tour was decided. Klæbo came in 5th place on the day (+34.9), gaining 3 seconds on Bolshunov who came in 8th (+38.1). Niskanen’s aggressive racing too, turned out to re-work the podium. He finished 12th on the stage (+1:00.4), maintaining his position for a third place overall finish in the Tour.

The final standings for this year’s Tour de Ski then: Johannes Høsflot Klæbo with the win (2:24:56.0), Alexander Bolshunov in second (+2:03.2), and Iivo Niskanen third (+3:14.5).

For Klæbo , it is his second overall Tour de Ski championship. He becomes only the 2nd Norwegian, after Martin Johnsrud Sundby, to win multiple Tours. He leaves tied with Bjørn Dæhlie on Individual World Cup stage wins. He also closes his most apparent weakness in the World Cup circuit, finishing 5th on the Alpe Cermis after previously never having breached the Top 10.

And yet, as he said in an interview with FIS media: Klæbo is “glad it’s over. It will be nice to get some days off now and rest for the Olympics.”

What lessons do we take from this year’s Tour de Ski then? While it has waxed and waned in importance and depth in championship seasons, it is a barometer by which we can see the history and the achievement of the sport’s greatest skiers. There are World Championships and World Cups, but the Tour is the Tour. As we head towards the sport’s biggest stage in Beijing next month, this edition reminds us that we are witnessing something one-of-a-kind in a Norwegian, still young at 25, that is poised to re-write any notion of what is possible in this sport: Johannes Høsflot Klæbo. Against the toughest and most glorious test in skiing on the Alpe Cermis, he has finally passed.

On his first climb up the Alpe, Zak Ketterson finished 48th (+3:01.3). He becomes the only American man to finish this year’s Tour de Ski, coming off the SuperTour in the U.S. to complete the sport’s most grueling test, and do so as his first World Cup starts no less. He finished 54th overall (+16:06.4).

Results: Stage 6

Tour de Ski Overall Standings: Cumulative Time | Points

• 2022 Tour de Ski
• Alexander Bolshunov
• Alpe cermis
• Denis Spitsov
• IIvo Niskanen
• Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo
• Val di Fiemme
• Zak Ketterson

Ben Theyerl

Ben Theyerl was born into a family now three-generations into nordic ski racing in the US. He grew up skiing for Chippewa Valley Nordic in his native Eau Claire, Wisconsin, before spending four years racing for Colby College in Maine. He currently mixes writing and skiing while based out of Crested Butte, CO, where he coaches the best group of high schoolers one could hope to find.

A College Spring Break for Cross-Country Skiiers

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Breakpoints

Laukli, mccabe climb to career best results at tour de ski finale.

Sophia Laukli and Novie McCabe saved their best for last, finishing fifth and seventh respectively to post career-best World Cup results in the final stage of the FIS Tour de Ski in Val di Fiemme, Italy, Tuesday. 

“It felt pretty good,” McCabe said after finishing the traditional final 3k climb up the Alpe Cermis in Cavalese. “It was tough, obviously, but I’m stoked about it.”

“It was quite a shock,” Laukli said of her fifth-place result. “After yesterday, I was extremely tired, so it was a bit of a 180. I was really looking forward to this race though, and I knew that this was my style of course, so I was really excited.”

Indeed, the Alpe Cermis certainly fits the style for Laukli and McCabe with pitches as steep as 28 percent. The course kicked off with a 2.5k loop before heading out onto the famed Marcialongo trail, which provided a fast respite for the athletes prior to the final climb. Jessie Diggins was fifth coming out of the Marcialongo, with Laukli and McCabe a bit further back in the field of 46 athletes who started the race. 

“I was right with Sophia,” McCabe said as they began the climb, “and I knew that she was going to be in a good position, so I tried to follow her.”

“I tried to stay pretty chill and ski it tactfully well,” Laukli said, “and I was able to start the climb with a lot of energy. Like Novie said. We were pretty far back, up until the climb started, so we were well-rested and able to make some moves on the climb.”

Norway’s Heidi Weng won the race, with Sweden’s Ebba Andersson in second and Delphine Claudel of France in third. Russia’s Natalia Nepryaeva was fourth to secure the overall Tour de Ski victory. The overall win also moved her into atop the World Cup overall standings. Jessie Diggins was 15th Tuesday and finished eighth overall. Alayna Sonnesyn was 36th Tuesday. 

In the men’s 10k freestyle mass start, Norway’s Sjur Roethe took the win, with Russia’s Dennis Spitsov in second and Friedrich Moch of Germany in third. Norway’s 19 KLAEBO Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo took the overall Tour de Ski victory. For the U.S. Zak Ketterson finished 48th in Tuesday’s stage, completing his first six events on the World Cup circuit.

“That was definitely the hardest race I have ever done,” Ketter said of Tuesday’s final stage. “It just kept going and there was not a lot of rest of course because you’re only going uphill. But I’m proud to have finished because it was a long journey just to get here.”

RESULTS Women’s 10k freestyle Men’s 10k freestyle

STANDINGS Women’s Tour de Ski final overall  Men’s Tour de Ski final overall

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Novie McCabe climbs the  Alpe Cermis during stage 6 of the FIS Tour de Ski Tuesday. ( Modica/NordicFocus)

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Tour de Ski 2022-23 wrap-up: Johannes Klaebo and Frida Karlsson claim overall titles  

Norwegian star Johannes Klæbo defends his crown as Sweden's Frida Karlsson claims her first Tour de Ski title.

The winners of the 2022-23 Tour de Ski were crowned on Sunday (8 January) in Val di Fiemme, Italy.

Following the seventh and final stage of the cross-country event, Frida Karlsson from Sweden won the women's overall title while Norway's force of nature, Johannes Klæbo , claimed the men's.

The 17th edition of the event saw Klæbo win six of seven stages in this year's Tour de Ski. The World Cup leader had hoped for a clean seven-stage sweep, but the task was too tall in the final leg of the series where he finished sixth.

For Klaebo the overall crown is his third in a row, adding another jewel to his impressive legacy at just 26 years of age.

Fellow countryman Simen Hegstad Kruger won the final stage to finish runner-up overall while Hans Holund was second on Sunday and third overall.

In the women's race, Karlsson become the second Swede ever to clinch the overall victory, 15 years after Charlotte Kalla in 2008. Behind her in second was Finland's Kerttu Niskanen with Tiril Udnes Weng of Norway in third.

The Swede won her first title after a dramatic finish at Val di Fiemme: after crossing the line 15th, she collapsed and needed medical attention.

The 23-year-old was taken away on a stretcher while using an oxygen mask and was still recovering when the podium celebrations took place. Despite being unable to take part, Astri Lindback, the national ski team press officer told TV6 broadcasters that there was no need to be worried and that she was talking with the medical team. Shortly after she left on foot for her hotel.

Delphine Claudel made history by winning the women's Final Climb mass start of Alpe Cermis on Sunday 8 January. The 26-year-old took home her first World Cup win which was also a French first in cross-country skiing. Norwegian Heidi Weng was second.

Tour de Ski 2022-2023 overall results:

Men final standings.

1. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo (NOR) 2.44.28,9 2. Simen Hegstad Kruger (NOR) +59,5 3. Hans Christer Holund (NOR) +1.21,3 4. Federico Pellegrino (ITA) +1.44,4 5. Pål Golberg (NOR) +2.05,3 6. Calle Halfvarsson (SWE) +2.09,2 7. Sjur Röthe (NOR) 2.09,9 8. Friedrich Moch (GER) +2.26,4 9. Didrik Tønseth (NOR) +2.43,0 10. Jules Lapierre (FRA) 2.48,5

Women final standings

1. Frida Karlsson (SWE) 3.09.31,4 2. Kerttu Niskanen (FIN) +33,2 3. Tiril Udnes Weng (NOR) +47,6 4. Rosie Brennan (USA) +1.42,1 5. Katharina Hennig (GER) +2.13,0 6. Heidi Weng (NOR) +2.27,2 7. Astrid Øyre Slind (NOR) +2.52,1 8. Lotta Udnes Weng (NOR) +3.05,8 9. Teresa Stadlober (AUT) +3.16,2 10. Delphine Claudel (FRA) +4.17,0

2022-23 Tour de Ski full schedule

Val muestair, switzerland.

Stage 1 - Saturday 31 December 2022 - Women's 1.5km freestyle sprint, men's 1.5km freestyle sprint.

Stage 2 - Sunday 1 January 2023 - Women's 10km classic pursuit, men's 10km classic pursuit.

Oberstdorf, Germany

Stage 3 - Tuesday 3 January 2023 - Women's 10km classic interval start, men's 10km classic interval start.

Stage 4 - Wednesday 4 January 2023 - Men's 20km freestyle pursuit, women's 20km freestyle pursuit.

Val di Fiemme, Italy

Stage 5 - Friday 6 January 2023 - Women's 1.5km classic sprint, men's 1.5km classic sprint.

Stage 6 - Saturday 7 January 2023- Women's 15km classic mass start, men's 15km classic mass start.

Stage 7 - Sunday 8 January 2023 - Women's 9km freestyle final climb mass start, men's 9km freestyle final climb mass start.

The full schedule and results can be found here.

Related content

Tour de Ski 2022-23: Preview, schedule, format, and how to watch cross-country stars including Klaebo and Diggins in the multi-stage event

Johannes hoesflot klaebo: beijing2022 medal moments, what are the different types of olympic cross-country skiing, meet johannes klaebo, the cross-country ski sensation from norway, great winter olympic rivalries: johannes klaebo and alexander bolshunov in cross-country skiing.

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Tour de Ski 2023-2024 - Schedule

Tour de Ski 2023-2024 - Standings

• https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/results.html?sectorcode=CC&raceid=44171'})">Men's final results
• https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/results.html?sectorcode=CC&raceid=44170'})">Women's final results

Tour de Ski 2023-2024 - Teams

🇩🇪 team germany, 🇫🇷 team france, 🇨🇭 team switzerland, 🇺🇸 team usa, 🇫🇮 team finland, 🇸🇪 team sweden, 🇳🇴 team norway, tour de ski 2023-2024 - results, tour de ski val di fiemme 7.1.2024, women's 10 km (f) final climb, men's 10 km (f) final climb, tour de ski val di fiemme 6.1.2024, men's 15 km (c) mass start, women 15 km (c), davos tour de ski 4.1.2024, men's 20 km (c) pursuit.

• https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/results.html?sectorcode=CC&raceid=44177'})">Complete results
• https://medias2.fis-ski.com/pdf/2024/CC/2274/2024CC2274PRL.pdf'})">Leg times

Women 20 km pursuit (c)

• https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/results.html?sectorcode=CC&raceid=44176'})">Results
• https://medias3.fis-ski.com/pdf/2024/CC/2273/2024CC2273PRL.pdf'})">Leg times

Davos Tour de Ski 3.1.2024

Men's sprint (f) final, women's sprint (f) final, men's sprint (f) qualification, women's sprint (f) qualification, toblach tour de ski 1.1.2024, women's 20 km (f) pursuit, men's 20 km (f) pursuit, toblach tour de ski 31.12.2023, men's 10 km (c) interval, women's 10 km (c) interval, toblach, tour de ski 30.12.2023, men sprint (f) final.

• https://live.fis-ski.com/cc-2262/results-pda.htm'})">Results

Women sprint, final (f)

• https://live.fis-ski.com/cc-2261/results-pda.htm'})">Results

Toblach Tour de Ski 30.12.2023

Women's sprint (f).

• https://live.fis-ski.com/cc-2259/results-pda.htm'})">Complete results

FIS live results

Toblach 30.12..

• https://live.fis-ski.com/cc-2259/results-pda.htm'})">Women's sprint (f) qualification
• https://live.fis-ski.com/cc-2260/results-pda.htm'})">Men's sprint (f) qualification
• https://live.fis-ski.com/cc-2261/results-pda.htm'})">Women's sprint (f) finals
• https://live.fis-ski.com/cc-2262/results-pda.htm'})">Men's sprint (f) finals

Toblach 31.12.

• https://live.fis-ski.com/cc-2263/results-pda.htm'})">Women's 10 km (c) interval start
• https://live.fis-ski.com/cc-2264/results-pda.htm'})">Men's 10 km (c) interval start

Toblach 1.1.

• https://live.fis-ski.com/cc-2266/results-pda.htm'})">Men's 25 km (f) pursuit
• https://live.fis-ski.com/cc-2265/results-pda.htm'})">Women's 25 km (f) pursuit
• https://live.fis-ski.com/cc-2269/results-pda.htm'})">Women's sprint (f) qualification
• https://live.fis-ski.com/cc-2270/results-pda.htm'})">Men's sprint (f) qualification
• https://live.fis-ski.com/cc-2271/results-pda.htm'})">Women's sprint (f) finals
• https://live.fis-ski.com/cc-2272/results-pda.htm'})">Men's sprint (f) finals
• https://live.fis-ski.com/cc-2273/results-pda.htm'})">Women's 20 km (c) pursuit
• https://live.fis-ski.com/cc-2274/results-pda.htm'})">Men's 20 km (c) pursuit

Val di Fiemme 6.1.

• https://live.fis-ski.com/cc-2275/results-pda.htm'})">Women's 15 km (c) mass start
• https://live.fis-ski.com/cc-2276/results-pda.htm'})">Men's 15 km (c) mass start

Val di Fiemme 7.1.

• https://live.fis-ski.com/cc-2278/results-pda.htm'})">Men's 10 km (f) mass start (final climb)
• https://live.fis-ski.com/cc-2277/results-pda.htm'})">Women's 10 km (f) mass start (final climb)

Tour de Ski 2022-2023 prize money

Video – tour de ski 2019/2020.

Alpe Cermis - Tour de Ski Final Climb

Alpe Cermis – Fastest Climber of All-Time

World cup points from tour de ski, wc points from the overall tour, wc points from a single race, tour de ski - history & statistics.

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Tour de Ski overall winners of all time

Most overall wins.

Results from previous years

Tour de ski 2022-2023 final results, tour de ski 2021-2022 final results, women's final standings 6/6, tour de ski 2021 final results, tour de ski 2019-2020 final results, tour de ski 2018-2019 final results, tour de ski 2017-2018 final results, tour de ski 2016-2017 final results, tour de ski 2015-2016 final results, tour de ski 2014-2015 final results.

Tour de Ski 2013-2014 final results

• Ruka 24.-26.11.2023
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• Toblach Tour de Ski 30.12.2023-1.1.2024
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• Val di Fiemme Tour de Ski 6.-7.1.2024
• Oberhof 19.-21.1.2024
• Goms 26.-28.1.2024
• Canmore 9.-13.2.2024
• Minneapolis 17.-18.2.2024
• Lahti Ski Games 1.-3.3.2024
• Holmenkollen 9.-10.3.2024
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• Falun 15.-17.3.2024
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• La Venosta Criterium & Itt 16.-17.12.2023
• 3 Zinnen Ski Marathon 13.1.2024
• Engadin La Diagonela 20.1.2024
• Marcialonga 28.1.2024
• CANCELLED Jizerská50 11.2.2024
• Grönklitt Classic & Itt 17.-18.2.2024
• Vasaloppet 3.3.2024
• Birkebeinerrennet 16.3.2024
• Reistadløpet 6.4.2024
• Summit 2 Senja 7.4.2024
• Janteloppet 13.4.2024
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Tour de Ski: Thrilling finale on the Val di Fiemme Final Climb

As the Tour de Ski 2023/2024 reaches its pinnacle, Val di Fiemme gears up to host the grand finale on January 6 and 7, 2024, marking the 18th appearance of this prestigious competition in the charming Italian locale. 

The Lago di Tesero cross-country skiing stadium and the Olimpia III track on the Alpe Cermis will witness the epic battles, featuring the 15 km classic on Saturday and the iconic 10 km free technique race up to Val di Fiemme Final Climb on Sunday.

Also Read –   Tour de Ski: Complete program for the 2023/2024 edition

The Final Climb: A Symbol of Greatness

The renowned “Final Climb” is not merely a Mass Start over a medium distance; it stands as a symbol of cross-country skiing, reserved for the true titans of the sport. Victory on this challenging course not only secures a position among the great champions but also earns valuable points for the World Cup along with substantial prize money.

The journey unfolds with a smooth 6-7 kilometers, allowing athletes to warm up before the real ascent on the Alpe Cermis. Spanning over 3600 meters, this ascent demands a climb of 420 meters in altitude. The initial ascent maintains a firm but regular gradient of 12.2%, leading to the formidable “Jump of Skiri,” a daunting 26.5% climb, followed by the demanding Pallua climb with a 14.3% average gradient. 

Athletes face challenging segments, including a heart-pounding 28% gradient at “the deer’s den” and a relentless climb up the “direttissima del Cermis” with an average never below 10%. The final sprint at an 11% gradient marks the triumphant approach to the finish line at the middle station of the Doss dei Laresi cableway.

Historic Records and Contenders

Records reveal impressive performances on this challenging climb. Until 2019, the climb time recorded only the final section, showcasing the prowess of athletes like Heidi Weng and Maurice Manificat. With men leading the climb this season, anticipation is high as they aim to surpass their predecessors’ records.

Tour de Ski Season 2023/2024

Now in its 18th edition, Tour de Ski consists of seven competitions over nine days in three different locations and two countries, and it’s the fifth stage of the 2023/2024 cross-country skiing World Cup.

The event starts on Saturday, December 30, 2023, with a sprint in freestyle technique in Toblach, Italy, and ends on January 7, 2024, with a 10km Final Climb in freestyle technique in Val di Fiemme, Italy. See below the complete program for Tour de Ski 2023/2024.

FACTS Tour de Ski Season 2023/2024

• When:  Saturday, December 30, 2023, to Sunday, January 7, 2024 
• Who:  Elite national skiers – women and men
• Where:  Toblach/ITA, Davos/SUI, and Val di Fiemme/ITA
• What:   FIS  Tour de Ski

Saturday, December 30, 2023 – Toblach/ITA: Sprint Freestyle  (More details can be found here )

• 12:00 CET: Sprint Quali F, Men
• 12:00 CET: Sprint Quali F, Women
• 14:30 CET: Sprint Final F, Men
• 14:30 CET: Sprint Final F, Women

Sunday, December 31, 2023 – Toblach/ITA: 10km Interval Start Classics ( More details can be found here )

• 12:15 CET: 10km Interval Start C, Women
• 15:00 CET: 10km Interval Start C, Men

Monday, January 1, 2024 – Toblach/ITA: 25km Pursuit Freestyle ( More details can be found here )

• 10:00 CET: 25km Pursuit F, Men
• 12:30 CET: 25km Pursuit F, Women

Wednesday, January 3, 2024 – Davos/SUI: Sprint Freestyle ( More details can be found here )

• 14:30 CET: Sprint Quali F, Men
• 14:30 CET: Sprint Quali F, Women
• 17:00 CET: Sprint Final F, Men
• 17:00 CET: Sprint Final F, Women

Thursday, January 4, 2024 – Davos/SUI: Pursuit Classic ( More details can be found here )

• 10:45 CET: Pursuit C, Women
• 13:00 CET: Pursuit C, Men

Saturday, January 6, 2024 – Val Di Fiemme/ITA: 15km Mass Start Classic ( More details can be found here )

• 11:30 CET: 15km Mass Start C, Women
• 15:25 CET: 15km Mass Start C, Men

Sunday, January 7, 2024 – Val Di Fiemme/ITA: 10km Mass Start Freestyle – Final Climb ( More details can be found here )

• 14:30 CET: 10km Mass Start F, Men
• 15:45 CET: 10km Mass Start F, Women

Read More:  World Cup calendar for the 2023/2024 Winter Season  

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Tour de Suisse Preview: Big Names Square Off in Major Tour de France Tune-up

Egan bernal, tom pidcock, adam yates and more to blitz climbs, while mark cavendish chases sprint win..

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With a sizeable chunk of the Tour de France peloton currently racing in the Critérium du Dauphiné , a second wave of riders targeting the grand tour will begin their own final preparations at the Tour de Suisse .

Starting on Sunday and running for eight days, the contest will see more of the sport’s top names in action. The top four GC contenders will be missing, with Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) still recovering from the Giro d’Italia, Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) still rebuilding after his Itzulia Basque Country crash on April 4, and both Primož Roglič (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) in action in the Dauphiné.

In their absence a number of other potential Tour podium contenders will be lighting up the roads in Switzerland, including former Tour de France winner Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers).

Five years ago the Colombian became the youngest Tour champion since 1909. Since then he has been blighted by injury, including a near-fatal training crash in 2022, but this season has seen his best form in years.

His results include GC third places in both the Volta a Catalunya and the O Gran Camiño, as well as a number of other top 10 finishes. He will aim for a stirring showing in Switzerland prior to his Tour participation, as will teammate Tom Pidcock .

The Briton won the Amstel Gold Race in April and was fourth in Strade Bianche. He has built his season around a strong performance in the Tour and with leadership in mind, will want to make a statement in Switzerland.

Returning after his overall victory last year will be Lidl-Trek rider Mathias Skjelmose . The Lidl-Trek climber was third in Itzulia Basque Country and will be psyched to repeat his 2023 success.

UAE Team Emirates has a stacked team, with last year’s Tour de France podium-finisher Adam Yates hoping to be back on track after suffering a bad concussion in the UAE Tour. Yates will be joined by Joâo Almeida , who could also be in the running, while their young teammate Isaac del Toro has the talent to do something big.

Movistar will be captained by Enric Mas , three times the runner-up in the Vuelta a España, and EF Education First will feature 2019 Giro d’Italia winner Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost).

Cian Uijtdebroeks will hope to be back in form after withdrawing from the Giro d’Italia with illness. The Visma-Lease a Bike rider won’t do the Tour this year, meaning the Tour de Suisse could be a major target in itself.

Lenny Martinez (Groupama-FDJ) is another top young talent, and his recent win in the Mercan’Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes hints at the form he could show in the high mountains.

High altitude showdowns plus two stages for sprinters

As expected from a country as mountainous as Switzerland, there will be a major emphasis on climbing in this year’s Tour de Suisse. Four of the eight stages have summit finishes, while the final stage is a time trial finishing with a long uphill.

Stage 1 on Sunday is a 4.8km time trial starting and finishing in Vaduz. It is completely flat, while stage 2 to Regensdorf features three classified climbs and a total of 2,400 meters of ascent. The last climb does top out with about 9km to go, making a big sprint possible.

Day three runs from Steinmaur to Rüschlikon and is another one that could suit the sprinters, although 2,000 meters of climbing plus an uphill ramp to the finish may complicate thing slightly.

Look out for Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan) to try to shine on one or both of these days, with a possible morale boost prior to his final Tour de France a big motivation. Also chasing sprint glory are Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Dstny), Bryan Coquard (Cofidis), Pascal Ackermann (Israel-Premier Tech), Jordi Meeus (Bora-Hansgrohe), and others.

The uphill stars step forward on stage 4, which takes the bunch 170.5km to San Gottardo. The final climbs begin 30km from the finish line and finish with the 8.2km ascent of the Gotthard Pass. That takes the riders to 2,041 meters above sea level, and will be a big test of form.

Stage five continues that climbing requirement and while the first two climbs are followed by a near 100km stretch of downhill and flat roads, it does conclude with the 10.2km ascent to Carì, averaging 8 percent.

Stage 6 was billed as the race’s queen stage but race organizers stated on Friday that problems with snow on the Nufenenpass meant that climb would be excluded. Other alternatives were also ruled out, meaning the race will instead be seriously shortened from 151.4km to just 42.5km.

It will still finish atop the Blatten-Belalp climb, but will total only 848 meters in altitude gain. The planned #RideforGino award in tribute to Gino Mäder moves from the Nufenen Pass to the Gotthard Pass on stage four.

Two further days of racing will follow after that point. Stage 7 is a three-peak day in the mountains, with a climb of the Col de la Croix situated just after the start to put pressure on the riders and again just after halfway through, then a finishing climb at Villars-Sur-Ollon.

The big Tour warm-up race then concludes next Sunday with a 15.7km individual time trial from Aigle to, once more, Villars-Sur-Ollon.

Most of the test is uphill, enabling the climbing specialists to have one final opportunity to chase the race leader’s jersey and to land a major pre-Tour de France morale boost.

Tour de Suisse 2024

Stage 1, June 9: Vaduz to Vaduz (4.8km) Stage 2, June 10: Vaduz to Regensdorf (176.9km) Stage 3, June 11: Steinmaur to Rüschlikon (161.7km) Stage 4, June 12: Rüschlikon to San Gottardo (170.9km) Stage 5, June 13: Ambri to Cari (148.6km) Stage 6, June 14: Ulrichen to Blaten-Belalp (42.5km) Stage 7, June 15: Villars-sur-Ollon to Villars-sur-Ollon (118.2km) Stage 8, June 16: Aigle to Villars-sur-Ollon time trial (15.7km)

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