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Switzerland 17 Jun – 21 Jun 2026 Class 2.UWT – Stages – UCI WorldTour
Website https://www.tourdesuisse.ch/en/
The 2026 Tour de Suisse Men (2.UWT) features a newly condensed 5-stage format running from June 17 to June 21, 2026. Because it serves as the ultimate high-level warm-up for the Tour de France, the peloton is packed with superstars looking to test their legs.
Here is the key breakdown of the top contenders and the full final team-by-team startlist.
🏆 The Headliners & GC Favorites
- Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG): The undisputed top favorite, hunting for his first overall title at the Swiss race.
- Primož Roglič (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe): Leading a highly competitive squad built perfectly for the short, punchy 5-day format.
- Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech): Making a massive return to racing after sitting out since Paris-Roubaix, eyeing the explosive early stages.
- Note: Tom Pidcock was originally scheduled to lead Pinarello-Q36.5 but has been ruled out right before the start.
🚴♂️ Final Team-by-Team Startlist
UAE Team Emirates-XRG
- POGAČAR Tadej
- NARVÁEZ Jhonnatan Manuel
- GROßSCHARTNER Felix
- MCNULTY Brandon
- NOVAK Domen
- POLITT Nils
- BJERG Mikkel
Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe
- ROGLIČ Primož
- ALEOTTI Giovanni
- FISHER-BLACK Finn
- HAJEK Alexander
- HERZOG Emil
- VLASOV Aleksandr
- WANDAHL Frederik
Alpecin – Premier Tech
- VAN DER POEL Mathieu
- DILLIER Silvan
- GROVES Kaden
- BAYER Tobias
- VERGALLITO Luca
- RIESEBEEK Oscar
- VERSTRYNGE Emiel
Team Visma | Lease a Bike
- BARRÉ Louis
- BRENNAN Matthew
- DOULL Owain
- HUISING Menno
- KELDERMAN Wilco
- KRUIJSWIJK Steven
- LEMMEN Bart
Soudal – Quick-Step
- SCHACHMANN Maximilian
- DAINESE Alberto
- LANDA Mikel
- GELDERS Gil
- VAN WILDER Ilan
- VERVAEKE Louis
- ZANA Filippo
INEOS / Netcompany INEOS
- AUGUST Andrew
- FOSS Tobias
- KWIATKOWSKI Michał
- LANGELLOTTI Victor
- LAURANCE Axel
- RIVERA Brandon Smith
- SWIFT Ben
Lidl – Trek
- BAGIOLI Andrea
- KONRAD Patrick
- MOLLEMA Bauke
- MOSCA Jacopo
- NYS Thibau
- OOMEN Sam
- VACEK Mathias
EF Education – EasyPost
- CARAPAZ Richard
- ALBANESE Vincenzo
- BELOKI Fernandez Markel
- RAFFERTY Darren
- LAMPERTI Luke
- NERURKAR Lukas
- SIMMONS Colby
Bahrain – Victorious
- TIBERI Antonio
- EULÁLIO Afonso
- GRADEK Kamil
- MARTINEZ Lenny
- MIQUEL Pau
- SEGAERT Alec
- VALTER Attila
Movistar Team
- QUINTANA Nairo
- ADRIÀ Roger
- ARCAS Jorge
- AULAR Orluis
- MAS Enric
Groupama – FDJ United
- CAVAGNA Rémi
- COSTIOU Ewen
- ROCHAS Rémy
- GERMANI Lorenzo
- GRÉGOIRE Romain
- MADOUAS Valentin
Tudor Pro Cycling Team
- ALAPHILIPPE Julian
- ERIKSSON Jacob
- HALLER Marco
- HIRSCHI Marc
- KLUCKERS Arthur
- MAYRHOFER Marius
- WEISS Fabian
Team Jayco AlUla
- SCHMID Mauro
- DOUBLE Paul
- HELLEMOSE Asbjørn
- MATTHEWS Michael
- GAMPER Patrick
- PICKERING Finlay
- DE PRETTO Davide
Lotto Intermarché
- WIDAR Jarno
- BEULLENS Cedric
- DE LIE Arnaud
- GRIGNARD Sébastien
- ØRN-KRISTOFF Felix
- ROTA Lorenzo
- RUTSCH Jonas
NSN Cycling Team
- LUTSENKO Alexey
- CÔTÉ Pier-André
- HIRT Jan
- PINARELLO Alessandro
- KRETSCHY Moritz
- SMITH Dion
- STRONG Corbin
XDS Astana Team
- BETTIOL Alberto
- CHAMPOUSSIN Clément
- FEDOROV Yevgeniy
- KUZMIN Anton
- VAN BEKKUM Darren
- SCHRETTL Marco
- VINOKUROV Nicolas
Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team
- AZPARREN Xabier Mikel
- CALZONI Walter
- CAMPRUBÍ Marcel
- HERMANS Quinten
- MEURISSE Xandro
- WRIGHT Fred
Team Picnic PostNL
- DINHAM Matthew
- FLYNN Sean
- GAFFURI Mattia
- HAMILTON Chris
- KOERDT Bjoern
- PEACE Oliver
- VAN UDEN Casper
Uno-X Mobility
- BYSTRØM Sven Erik
- DALBY Simon
- DVERSNES LAVIK Fredrik
- HOELGAARD Markus
- KAMP Alexander
- CORT Magnus
🗺️ Quick Race Facts
- Total Distance: 633.5 km across 5 stages.
- Key Checkpoints: Stage 4 features a flat, high-speed 23.8 km Individual Time Trial in Aarburg, followed by Stage 5’s brutal high alpine “Queen Stage” finishing in Villars-sur-Ollon with over 4,200 meters of climbing.
The 2026 Tour de Suisse Men (UCI WorldTour 2.UWT) features a major structural change. To create an aligned, parallel festival with the women’s WorldTour race, the men’s event has been condensed to a dense, action-packed 5-day format.
The race runs from Wednesday, June 17 to Sunday, June 21, 2026, covering a total distance of 633.5 km with absolutely zero room for transitional or recovery days.
2026 Men’s Stage Schedule
| Stage | Date | Route | Profile | Distance | Elevation Gain |
| Stage 1 | Wed, June 17 | Sondrio (ITA) – Sondrio (ITA) | Hilly | 144.0 km | 2,455 m |
| Stage 2 | Thu, June 18 | Locarno – Locarno | Hilly | 157.7 km | 2,110 m |
| Stage 3 | Fri, June 19 | Bad Ragaz – Bad Ragaz | Hilly / Tactical | 157.9 km | 2,690 m |
| Stage 4 | Sat, June 20 | Aarburg – Aarburg | Individual Time Trial | 23.8 km | 270 m |
| Stage 5 | Sun, June 21 | Villars-sur-Ollon – Villars-sur-Ollon | High Mountain | 151.1 km | 4,226 m |
Stage Breakdown & Character
Stage 1 (Sondrio): Starting across the border in Italy, the opening stage bypasses a traditional prologue for a rugged, classic-style loop. Featuring short but vicious gradients swinging between 7% and 11.5%, it’ll instantly separate the contenders.
Stage 2 (Locarno): Set against the backdrop of Lago Maggiore, this stage packs a punchy finale in the final 20 kilometers with back-to-back sharp climbs, making it an ideal hunting ground for explosive puncheurs.
Stage 3 (Bad Ragaz): This stage loops through eastern Switzerland and features the formidable Schwägalp climb. While teams with elite climbing sprinters will try to pull things together for a reduced bunch finish, tactical breakaways have a high chance of success.
Stage 4 (Aarburg): A flat, blisteringly fast 23.8 km individual time trial (ITT). This serves as a vital pure power benchmark for grand tour specialists wanting to flex their time-trialing engines before July.
Stage 5 (Villars-sur-Ollon): The undisputed Queen Stage. A brutal alpine circus centered around multiple climbs up the HC-category Col de la Croix. Packing over 4,200 meters of vertical gain into just 151 km, the overall yellow jersey will be forged or lost on these mountain peaks.
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
The Tour de Suisse is one of the most storied events in professional cycling. First held in 1933, it serves as a prestigious title in its own right and the ultimate alpine proving ground for contenders aiming for the Tour de France just a few weeks later.
As a cornerstone of the UCI WorldTour (2.UWT), the race has a rich history defined by high-altitude drama, legendary rivalries, and Swiss cultural heritage.
1. The Early Years & Wartime Resiliency (1930s–1940s)
The inaugural Tour de Suisse took place in 1933, won by Austrian rider Max Bulla. It quickly gained a reputation for its brutal mountain passes and unpredictable alpine weather.
During World War II, when almost all international sporting events ground to a halt, Swiss organizers managed to keep the race alive for two editions:
- The 1941 Track Finish: Due to heavy downpours and nighttime blackout restrictions, the finish of the final stage was moved indoors to Zurich’s Hallenstadion. Sepp Wagner won the title via a historic indoor track sprint.
- The Rise of Kübler (1942): This edition saw the breakout performance of Ferdi Kübler, who claimed his first of three overall titles, signaling the dawn of a golden era for Swiss cycling.
2. The Golden Era & “The Duel of the Ks” (1950s)
The 1950s are considered the absolute peak of the race’s domestic popularity, driven by the intense rivalry between two Swiss icons with contrasting personalities:
- Ferdi Kübler: The gritty, aggressive “hard worker” (Chrampfer).
- Hugo Koblet: The stylish, smooth time-trial specialist (Pédaleur de charme).
Between them, Kübler and Koblet secured six overall titles, dozens of stage wins, and captured the imagination of the entire nation.
The Unlikely Record Holder
While the Swiss public focused on the “Ks”, Italian rider Pasquale Fornara quietly dominated the decade. Leveraging his smooth climbing style, Fornara won the race in 1952, 1954, 1957, and 1958. His 4 overall victories remain the all-time men’s record.
3. “Mr. Tour de Suisse” & Global Expansion (1960s–1990s)
By the mid-1960s, the race fell into financial and administrative jeopardy. In 1967, Sepp Voegeli took control as race director. Over a 25-year tenure, “Mr. Tour de Suisse” transformed the event into a commercial powerhouse, drawing massive roadside crowds and securing extensive television coverage.
The race attracted international legends who used the Swiss Alps to prepare their legs for the Tour de France:
- Eddy Merckx (1974): The Belgian “Cannibal” overcame a mechanical failure during a time trial to stamp his name on the winners’ list.
- Andrew Hampsten (1986–1987): The American became the first non-European winner, taking back-to-back victories.
- Sean Kelly (1983, 1990): The legendary Irish classicist proved he could conquer the high mountains just as well as the flats.
4. The WorldTour Era & Modern Tragedy (2000s–2020s)
In 2005, the Tour de Suisse joined the elite UCI ProTour (now WorldTour). This era featured a historic 3-year consecutive streak (2012–2014) by Portugal’s Rui Costa and powerful performances from home-hero time-trialist Fabian Cancellara.
However, the modern era has also been defined by resilience through adversity:
- 2020 Virtual Race: The COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the physical race, leading organizers to host “The Digital Swiss 5″—a unique, highly broadcasted virtual race utilizing smart trainers.
- 2023 Tragedy: The cycling world was devastated during Stage 5 when 26-year-old Swiss rider Gino Mäder suffered a fatal crash on the descent of the Albulapass. The race neutralized the following stage for a memorial ride, and the Gino Mäder Foundation was subsequently established to honor his legacy.
5. The 2026 Shift: Alignment with the Women’s Peloton
Faced with evolving economic and logistical demands, organizers executed a historic overhaul for the 2026 edition.
Instead of its traditional 8-day format, the men’s race was streamlined into an ultra-dense 5-day format. This allowed the men’s and women’s WorldTour fields to share identical host towns, logistics, and parallel alpine routes on the exact same days—turning the Tour de Suisse into an aligned, week-long cycling festival.
Men’s All-Time Statistical Leaders
- Most Overall Wins: 🇮🇹 Pasquale Fornara (4 wins)
- Three-Time Winners: 🇨🇭 Ferdi Kübler, 🇨🇭 Hugo Koblet, 🇵🇹 Rui Costa
- Most Stage Wins: 🇨🇭 Peter Sagan (18 stages)
