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Tuesday, June 16, 2026

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Upcoming racing:

June 17 - 21: Tour de Suisse
June 17 - 21: Baloise Belgium Tour

Latest completed racing:

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Teams preview Tour de Suisse

Here's our 2026 Tour de Suisse/Tour of Switzerland page

Here's the UAE Team Emirates-XRG Tour de Suisse and Tour of Belgium preview:

Already a winner of five of cycling’s most prestigious ‘big seven’ week-long stage races, Tadej Pogačar will lead UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s title defence at the upcoming Tour de Suisse. Raced for five days between Wednesday, 17 June, and Sunday, 21 June, this year’s race in Switzerland will mark its 89th edition.

For the Emirati squad, the historic stage race conjures happy memories from recent times.

The team has won the last two editions through Adam Yates (2024) and João Almeida (2025), with the pair taking seven stage victories between them. Three years ago, Juan Ayuso picked off two stage victories on his way to second overall, whilst Diego Ulissi claimed the team’s first Tour de Suisse stage win in 2018.

As for Pogačar, the world champion won the Tour de Romandie in Switzerland last month, before enjoying a recent spell of altitude training in Sierra Nevada. Preparing to make his race debut at the Tour de Suisse, the Slovenian is looking forward to the challenge of defending the team’s title.

Tadej Pogacar in yellow after stage four of the 2026 Tour de Romandie. Sirotti photo

Pogačar: “Training has gone very well, both individually and as a team, and I’m arriving at the Tour de Suisse feeling strong and motivated. It’s my first time racing here, which makes it even more exciting.

“We’ve had a good block of training done at altitude over the past few weeks, and after watching our teammates racing and doing well at other races, we can’t wait to put our race numbers on and put that work into action.”

With four stage wins along the way, Pogačar’s victory at the Tour de Romandie marked his fifth title of the ‘big seven’ stage races. These week-long races are the most valued outside of the Grand Tours, and the 27-year-old now only needs the Tour de Suisse and Itzulia Basque Country to complete the set.

There will be no sense of complacency ahead of the coming five days of racing, however, with the Tour de Suisse regularly attracting a star-studded startlist in anticipation of the Tour de France. Adding to the race’s difficulty, the route is often a hilly affair, and this year’s event marks a slightly altered format.

Down from eight stages to five, this year’s Tour de Suisse has been shortened to coincide the men’s race with the women’s. For the convenience of the roadside spectators and the race organisers, each stage will begin and end in the same village, town or city.

Ready to commandeer Pogačar and his teammates through the challenge, UAE Team Emirates-XRG will be headed up by Sports Directors Andrej Hauptman, Marco Marcato, and Simone Pedrazzini.

As for the seven-man lineup, Pogačar will be joined in Switzerland by Felix Großschartner, Brandon McNulty, Jhonatan Narváez, Domen Novak, Nils Politt, and Tim Wellens.

The powerful and experienced team could prove pivotal to Pogačar’s ambitions across the five days of racing, which will take the Tour de Suisse from the start of stage 1 in Sondrio to the conclusion of the final day in Villars-sur-Ollon. Along the way, we can expect to watch three days of battles between the general classification contenders, an individual time trial, and a potential bunch sprint on stage 3.

First up, the Tour de Suisse will actually start out from Sondrio in Italy.

The first 50km of stage 1 may look relatively tranquil, but then the climbing begins, with the race organisers saving the hardest until last. With less than 20km to go, there are a pair of category three ascents that will surely draw out attacks. First up is the Ponte in Valtellina (1.6km at 8.9%), before the Bordighi (1.2km at 9.8%) tops out with just 4.7km to ride to Sondrio.

Stage 2 is much like the opening day, with a series of short but sharp climbs in the finale. Once more, there are a pair of category three climbs within the closing 20km to break up the field and create gaps between those hoping to win this year’s race.

This explosive run to home in Locano begins with the Fanghi (3.6km at 7%), and then follows on to the brutish Via Consiglio Mezzano (1.4km at 8.9%), which peaks with just 8km left to the finish line.

After the tough first two stages, the peloton’s sprinters may get a reprieve on stage 3. Ridden out and back to Bad Ragaz, the 157.4km-long stage does include a pair of category one ascents in the middle of the day, but the flat final 60km should offer enough time for the fast men to regroup at the head of the race.

With the sprinters likely given their chance on Friday, all attention will swing back towards the general classification contenders over the weekend. Stage 4 will pit the race hopefuls against one another in a 23.7km-long individual time trial in Aarburg, where every second may prove vital in the battle for the leader’s jersey.

This stage is the flattest of the race, naturally, but includes enough corners to make this out-and-back parcours a technical challenge. The specialists against the clock should thrive in this ITT.

Into the final day, stage 5 will begin and end in Villars-sur-Ollon, but not before a whopping 4,216m of elevation gain across just 150.4km of racing. This is certainly the Queen stage of the race, and will see the successor to João Almeida crowned as the winner of this year’s Tour de Suisse.

With barely an inch of flat parcours, stage 5 sees the peloton heading either up or down all afternoon long, across three laps of a tough Col de la Croix circuit.

Right out of the blocks, the riders are into the mountains, with the first climb of the Col de la Croix taking the peloton up to 1,800m, before a further two full ascents of the same mountain. The climb itself stretches out for a whopping 19km at an average gradient of 7.1%.

On the third ascent, the riders will not scale the full mountain, but still do battle on the tough slopes to Villars-sur-Ollon. This final ascent averages 7.3% for 11.7km, offering a sting in the tail to the most difficult day of racing. There will be no room to hide as the 89th edition of the Tour de Suisse draws to a close.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG will look to defend its title at the Baloise Belgium Tour
As Tadej Pogačar goes in search of the Tour de Suisse title, UAE Team Emirates-XRG will also be mounting a defence of its crown at the Baloise Belgium Tour. Won last year by Filippo Baroncini, the five-day stage race will host its 95th edition this time out.

Winning the race on debut last year, UAE Team Emirates-XRG will return for its second participation in the UCI 2.Pro Event, where 11 WorldTeams are scheduled to compete. Amongst a packed field of sprinters that includes Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step), Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech), and Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM), Sebastián Molano will target the bunch finishes for the Emirat squad.

Last year, the Colombian claimed a trio of runner-up spots en route to winning the points jersey, and he will hope to lift his arms in the air on this occasion. Luca Giaimi, Rune Herregodts and Julius Johansen will all follow Molano from the Copenhagen Sprint to the Baloise Belgium Tour, with the UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad completed by Rui Oliveira, Florian Vermeersch, and Gen Z rider, Heimo Fugger.

For Fugger, the race will mark his debut outing for the WorldTour squad. The 18-year-old’s selection marks another sign of commitment to developing the stars of tomorrow for UAE Team Emirates.

Having also enjoyed a spell of altitude training, Florian Vermeersch will head to his home race in search of bettering his fine results in recent years. The Classics specialist finished seventh overall in 2023, before riding to sixth with UAE Team Emirates-XRG in last year’s race. There, Vermeersch proved a key teammate to Baroncini, as the Italian won his first GC title.

The experience of last year’s route should serve Vermeersch well, with two of this year’s stages a replica of 2025. Before that, however, the peloton will seek new frontiers on stage 1 between Scherpenheuvel and Zichem.

Along this 188.3km route, bonus seconds will be up for grabs at the ‘Golden KM,’ which falls after 146km of action. There are plenty of short climbs scattered across Wednesday’s stage to make things interesting, but it would be no surprise to see a sprint finish in Zichem.

Stage 2 of this year’s Baloise Belgium Tour is a repeat of last year’s opening stage between Merelbeke-Melle and Knokke-Heist. Once more, there is a Golden KM to consider after 173km, before an uphill sprint finish on the coast at Knokke-Heist. Tim Merlier will be a man to watch here, having mastered the finale to great effect in 2025.

The general classification battle will take centre stage on stage 3, with the 173km out-and-back to Durbuy a replica of last year’s penultimate stage. It was here that Baroncini produced a battling performance to ride into the leader’s jersey, and we can expect a grandstand finish on the Mur de Durbuy once again.

Known as the ‘smallest city in the world,’ Durbuy sits right at the heart of the Belgian Ardennes, and these hills will come to define stage 3. There is almost 3,000m of climbing to be had, over more than a dozen climbs on the route. The stage winner will be crowned at the top of the Mur de Durbuy, which stretches out for 600m at an average gradient of more than 10%.

There are more climbs to come on stage 4 between Begijnendijk and Aarschot, but all attackers must beware the flat final 20km. None of the day’s climbs is all that selective, so the fast men will fancy their chances on the penultimate day of racing.

Should the general classification remain tight heading into the final stage, the Golden KM is back to provide some blockbuster entertainment. The bonus seconds are on offer less than 30km before the end of stage 5, which takes the peloton from Gingelom to Hoeilaart.

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Here's the Tour of Switzerland update from Team Bahrain Victorious:

Bahrain Victorious line up for the 2026 edition of the Tour de Suisse, scheduled from 17 to 21 June, as the team continues its build-up towards the Tour de France.

The race takes on a new five-day format this year, with the men’s and women’s races taking place across the same dates and following broadly parallel route designs. The men’s race covers 634.5 kilometres, starting in Sondrio, Italy, and finishing with the queen stage in Villars-sur-Ollon.

Antonio Tiberi and Lenny Martinez lead the Bahrain Victorious line-up with a focus on the general classification. Tiberi returns to racing after a short break and a strong block of altitude training in Teide, while Martinez also comes into the race following a period of preparation at altitude.

Lenny Martinez after stage five of the Tour de Romandie. He finished third in the GC. Sirotti photo

Kamil Gradek will provide important support and experience across the week, with Attila Valter adding strength in the key climbing phases. Afonso Eulálio returns after a standout Giro d’Italia and will support the team’s protected riders, particularly in the mountains. Alec Segaert will target the stage four individual time trial in Aarburg, while Pau Miquel gives the team another option for stage opportunities, especially if the race opens up on stage three.

The five-stage route offers little time for the general classification to settle. The opening two days in Sondrio and Locarno are hilly and suited to strong climbers and punchy riders, while stage three in Bad Ragaz could offer different race scenarios depending on how the teams approach the day. Stage four is a 23.8km individual time trial in Aarburg, before the race concludes with the queen stage in Villars-sur-Ollon, featuring more than 4,000 metres of climbing.

Antonio Tiberi said:
“I’m really happy to be back racing at the Tour de Suisse after a period without competition. I had some time to rest, and then I went to Teide for a good training block. Now I feel good and ready to race again.

"I’m curious to see where my condition is before the Tour de France. I want to use the Tour de Suisse to test myself, to understand my shape, and to find good sensations again on the bike in a race situation.

"We go there with a very strong team, with Lenny and the rest of the guys. I was also together with Lenny in Teide and he was really strong, so I’m confident for this Tour de Suisse. We will try to enjoy it, do our best every day, and honour an important race for us.”

Sports Director Roman Kreuziger added:
“This year’s Tour de Suisse has a different format, going from eight stages to five, so it will be intense from the start. There are also some transfers involved, which will make recovery and organisation important for every team during the week.

"The first two stages are suited to strong climbers with punch, so we can expect racing straight away. Stage three could be an opportunity for the breakaway, but there are also teams with fast riders who may try to control it. Then we have a very nice time trial in Aarburg, mostly flat and smooth, where it will be about aerodynamics and pushing hard.

"The final day in Villars-sur-Ollon is the queen stage, with a lot of elevation and some technical sections, so it will be a very important test. Weather can also play a role in Switzerland at this time of year, so we will need to stay focused and adapt day by day.

"We have a strong and balanced group here. Antonio looks sharp and motivated after a good training camp on Teide, and I think the course suits him quite well. A top five is a realistic goal, and if everything comes together, we can also fight for the podium. With Lenny, we want to be flexible and take it day by day. We know that when he pins on a number, he is a racer, but the most important thing is that he comes through the race with good feelings and builds towards the next goals.

"The rest of the team gives us good support and options. Kamil is a rider we really rely on, Attila has shown good progress and can be important in the key moments, Afonso is motivated after his big Giro d’Italia and can help us a lot in the mountains, Alec has the time trial as a clear objective, and Pau can look for opportunities depending on how the race develops. The goal is to stay competitive every day, support our leaders well, and be ready when chances come.”

The Tour de Suisse forms an important part of Bahrain Victorious’ preparation towards the Tour de France, with the team aiming to stay competitive in the general classification while remaining alert to stage opportunities throughout the five days.

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And here's the Tour of Switzerland update from Team Jayco AlUla.

Note: I have included the news from the women's Liv AlUla team, but we follow only the men's race.

Liv AlUla Jayco and Team Jayco AlUla will head to the forthcoming Tour de Suisse with an eye on stage wins and GC success respectively.

This year’s Tour de Suisse will be a unique one with the men’s and women’s races running concurrently across five days, hosted by the same towns.

Mauro Schmid will lead Team Jayco AlUla with a view towards challenging in the general classification and taking a stage win along the way. He will be ably supported by a strong group of climbers in Paul Double, Finlay Pickering, and Asbjørn Hellemose.

Mauro Schmid after stage four of the 2025 Tour Down Under. He had been judged the day's most competitive rider. Sirotti photo.

Meanwhile, Michael Matthews will continue his build-up to the Tour de France in Switzerland, after making his comeback to racing earlier this month following a long injury lay-off. Davide De Pretto adds another fast finisher while Patrick Gamper rounds out the line-up, providing a strong engine at the core of the team.

Liv AlUla Jayco will be searching out stage success with a well-rounded team ready for all terrains. Talia Appleton will be racing her second WorldTour race since her promotion to the WorldTeam, fresh from her recent win at the Alpes Gresivaudan Classic.

Joining her on the line-up will be fast finishers Letizia Paternoster and Ruby Roseman-Gannon, and Australian champion Mackenzie Coupland. Climber Nadia Gontova and all-rounder Josie Talbot complete the strong squad.

Talia Appleton will race her second WorldTour event of the season

Team Jayco AlUla for the Tour de Suisse
Davide De Pretto (ITA)
Paul Double (GBR)
Asbjørn Hellemose (DEN)
Michael Matthews (AUS)
Patrick Gamper (AUT)
Finlay Pickering (GBR)
Mauro Schmid (SWI)

Liv AlUla Jayco for the Tour de Suisse
Talia Appleton (AUS)
Mackenzie Coupland (AUS)
Nadia Gontova (CAN)
Letizia Paternoster (ITA)
Ruby Roseman-Gannon (AUS)
Josie Talbot (AUS)

Mauro Schmid:
“I’ve had a nice block at altitude ahead of the race and I could do some good training there. I’m excited to get back racing. It’s always a little bit extra special racing in Switzerland with the national champion’s jersey, it’s something I really want to enjoy. Hopefully, I can race for a stage win or at least be able to show off the jersey a little bit or see where my shape is heading before the Tour de France. In general, it will be the last race with the national championships so that makes it a little bit more special.”

Letizia Paternoster:
“I am happy to come back; I have missed racing a lot. It’s not easy to come back after more than a month without racing but my battery is completely full, and I’ve enjoyed my time at home where I got some rest after a busy spring. This race will be a good test for me ahead of the Tour de France Femmes, which is my big goal. In the end, there are some good opportunities at the Tour de Suisse, and I want to try for some good results. There are some stages that can suit me. We will be a strong team and the goal for the team will be to try and win some stages.”

Pieter Weening – Sport Director Team Jayco AlUla:
“The race is only five days instead of eight, but looking at the profiles, it is a very interesting race. The first two stages have some difficult finals, while stage three has a little bit of everything. Stage 4 is a 24km time trial and will be really important for our overall ambitions. The last stage into Villars sur Ollon has a lot of altitude metres, so that will also be a big day for GC where anything can happen.

"Our main objective will be the GC with Mauro Schmid but it’s also a good test for Michael Matthews on stages one and two, and also maybe stage three. Normally this kind of final would suit him so it’ll be interesting to see what he can do after his comeback. On the final stage, we will be focusing on Mauro, but we also want to see what guys like Finlay Pickering, Paul Double, Rudy Porter, and Asbjørn Hellemose can do. On paper, it looks like a very interesting Tour de Suisse, and all of our boys are in good shape, so we’re looking forward to it.”

Shawn Clarke:
“We’re pretty excited about the team we have going. We have some strong climbers in Talia and Nadia, good attacker in Mackenzie and Josie, and some faster options with Ruby and Letizia. I think it’s good to note that Talia will be joining us for her second WorldTour race, so we’re really excited to have her come up along with Mackenzie who graduated last year. It’s a really cool storyline to see and we’re excited to have this crop of youth coming up and to have them here.

:Suisse is always a quirky race with fun courses, and you need to be versatile. I think that’s what we have with this team. The stage four time trial will be particularly interesting as we don’t do so many TTs. We’re looking forward to putting some energy into that and see what we can do. Of course, there’s an eye towards the time trial at the Tour de France.”

Tour de Suisse Men/Women – 17th to 21st June (5 stages)

Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

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