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Follow us on GoogleOnce the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is done and dusted, the next major Tour de France preparation race is already waiting. The Tour de Suisse may be shorter than before, but that arguably only makes it more intense. Riders who look sharp in the Swiss mountains usually have every reason to believe their legs are coming around nicely for the Tour. IDL Procycling previews the race and will keep track of everything you need to know.
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As mentioned, the Tour de Suisse has been shortened this year, going from eight days to five. Budgets in Swiss races are no longer what they once were in 2026, as we also saw earlier in the Tour de Romandie, where racing went ahead despite financial losses. The organisation, however, presents the new format as “a combination of tradition and forward-looking innovation.” We are very curious to see how it plays out.
Recent winners of the Tour de Suisse 2026
2025 João Almeida
2024 Adam Yates
2023 Mattias Skjelmose
2022 Geraint Thomas
2021 Richard Carapaz
2020 Not held
2019 Egan Bernal
2018 Richie Porte
2017 Simon Spilak
2016 Miguel Ángel López
2024 Adam Yates
2023 Mattias Skjelmose
2022 Geraint Thomas
2021 Richard Carapaz
2019 Egan Bernal
2018 Richie Porte
2017 Simon Spilak
2016 Miguel Ángel López
Route, stage favorites, and times for the 2026 Tour de Suisse
Stage 1, Wednesday, June 17, 2026: Sondrio – Sondrio (144.0 km)
What an insane ride we witnessed on day one. After the first mountain, Tadej Pogacar decided it was a good moment to attack. The world champion conjured up a spectacular solo and put more than two minutes between himself and second-placed Richard Carapaz: the other rivals lost more than four minutes. You're welcome.
Winner:
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Stage 2, Thursday, June 18, 2026: Locarno – Locarno (157.7 km)
The sting was in the tail, and the race exploded near Locarno. Tadej Pogacar initially wanted to help Jhonatan Narváez to victory, but decided to go for it himself when the latter dropped. However, he fell short by a few seconds, as the early breakaway narrowly stayed ahead: Romain Grégoire proved too strong for Bart Lemmen there.
Winner:
Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ)
Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ)
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Stage 3, Friday, June 19, 2026: Bad Ragaz – Bad Ragaz (157.4 km)
A wonderful opportunity for the sprinters, who, however, had to survive a tough section with climbing. It was already chaos there, with a duo attack by Jhonatan Narvaez (UAE) and Xandro Meurisse (Pinarello). At the finish, they held on by a few seconds, allowing Narvaez to add another victory to his name.
Winner:
Jhonatan Narvaez (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Jhonatan Narvaez (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Read also
Stage 4, Saturday, June 20, 2026: Aarburg – Aarburg (23.7 km, time trial)
The time trial was a good test for the Tour de France. The 23.7 kilometers provided a delightful spectacle: Mathieu van der Poel sat in the hot seat for a long, long time. However, Tadej Pogacar slipped past him at the last moment by just 0.31 seconds.
Winner:
Tadej Pogačar (UAE)
Tadej Pogačar (UAE)
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Stage 5, Sunday, June 21, 2026: Villars-sur-Ollon – Villars-sur-Ollon (150.7 km)
The final stage was really the only chance for the true climbers to really test their legs. It was a climb right from the start, involving tackling the Col de la Croix three times. A breakaway group rode away and Lenny Martinez stayed ahead for a long time from there, but eventually, there was always that pesky Pogacar. The Slovenian won yet again, putting the finishing touch on the victory.
Winner:
Tadej Pogačar (UAE)
Tadej Pogačar (UAE)
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Overall result 2026 Tour de Suisse - Ellite Men
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Favorites for the 2026 Tour de Suisse GC
Naturally, there is one clear favorite, and that is Tadej Pogačar. The Slovenian from UAE Emirates-XRG can enjoy himself in the explosive finales during the opening days, before he should, in principle, look to make the difference in the time trial and on the final stage. We are also very curious to see how Brandon McNulty performs. The American is expected to be one of Pogačar’s key helpers at the Tour de France.
Pogačar’s challengers are spread throughout the start list. Bahrain Victorious brings two Tour leaders in Antonio Tiberi and Lenny Martinez, while Richard Carapaz returns to stage racing with EF Education-EasyPost after a long spell of injury trouble. That injury period also forced him to miss the Giro d’Italia in May. Lenny Martinez will therefore be one of the names to watch closely. The French climber has the profile to make the most of the final day, while Tiberi gives Bahrain another card for the general classification. If the race becomes tactical, the team could have options.
Lenny Martinez
Jarno Widar is also back in action for Lotto-Intermarché. Can the Belgian compete with the very best? That is always the question with Romain Grégoire as well, because on his best days the Groupama-FDJ United rider is truly world-class. The same, of course, applies to Primož Roglič, who has another solid training block in the legs. Whether that is specifically aimed at the Tour is not yet clear. Maybe his week in Switzerland will help provide the answer.
Tom Pidcock will also want to find good legs at the Tour de Suisse as he builds toward his Tour de France summer. Outsiders for a strong GC result include Jayco AlUla riders Paul Double and Mauro Schmid, Alessandro Pinarello of NSN, and Max Poole, who returns for Picnic PostNL. Tudor also brings two interesting names in Marc Hirschi and Marco Brenner.
And where do Nairo Quintana and Enric Mas stand at Movistar? Quintana is building toward the summer, while Mas comes out of the Giro. At Visma | Lease a Bike, the focus will be on Dutch riders Wilco Kelderman and Bart Lemmen. Finally, at Soudal Quick-Step, Ilan Van Wilder is someone to keep an eye on, also after a period of training.
Data powered by FirstCycling.com
IDL Pro Cycling top picks, 2026 Tour de Suisse GC
Top favorite: Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Outsiders: Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious), Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), and Brandon McNulty (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Long shots: Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5), Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious), Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost), Jarno Widar (Lotto-Intermarché), Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ United), Mauro Schmid (Jayco AlUla), Max Poole (Picnic PostNL), Wilco Kelderman (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal Quick-Step)
Outsiders: Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious), Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), and Brandon McNulty (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Long shots: Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5), Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious), Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost), Jarno Widar (Lotto-Intermarché), Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ United), Mauro Schmid (Jayco AlUla), Max Poole (Picnic PostNL), Wilco Kelderman (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal Quick-Step)
How to watch Tour de Suisse 2026 on TV
The Tour de Suisse is organising a complete stage race for both women and men across five days, with both races shown live on HBO Max in the UK and US, on FloBikes in Canada, and free to air on SBS on Demand in Australia
Click on this link to see how to watch the Tour of Switzerland live on TV.
Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- McNulty’s Veneto Classic win in the rainbow jersey was a strong way to close his season. The45km Saitama circuit ridden 25 times sounds like it could suit punchy riders as much as the sprinters. Who’s the favourite?tourdeforce903-11-2026
- I’m still figuring out cyclocross: do the riders use the same bikes for the grass, sand and mud, or change them during the race?jeremya02-11-2026
- £50 seems a bit steep for a day out, though I suppose it’s a major event and the demand is clearly there. Do family tickets make it much more affordable?tourdeforce902-11-2026
- Fifteen thousand is a serious crowd for a World Cup round. Glasgow could be a huge moment for British ‘cross if Mason can get near the podium again.jennifer1902-11-2026
- Those junior races are a great addition — it gives young riders a proper spotlight before the elites take over. Hope the course makes the most of the park rather than just being a muddy spectator scrum!samanthak02-11-2026
- Fantastic to see cyclocross getting this kind of response in Scotland. A packed Kelvingrove Park should make for a brilliant atmosphere, especially with Mason racing on home roads.raceready702-11-2026
- No explanation after 15 years feels a bit thin. The budget pressure may be unrelated, but it’s hard not to wonder if all these changes are connected.samanthak02-11-2026
- I’m still learning how team directors work—does the head sports director decide race tactics, or is that mainly down to the riders and the person in the team car?velodromevirtuoso102-11-2026
- A proper changing of the guard at EF, especially with Carapaz going too. Hope they don’t lose the team identity in the reshuffle.cadencekingm02-11-2026
- White coming back just before Wegelius leaves makes the timing look significant, even if EF haven’t said there’s a connection. Interested to see who gets the head DS role.raceready702-11-2026