Tour de Suisse 2016 Route stage 7: Arbon – Rettenbachferner/Sölden

Friday, June 17, 2016 – Leading to a finish at an elevation of 2,669 metres, stage 7 is the Queen Stage of the 2016 Tour de Suisse. At 224 kilometres, riders go from Arbon to the Rettenbachferner, which is reached after a 12.1 kilometres closing climb at 10.1%.

After leaving Arbon, at an elevation of 400 metres, the riders are to climb 4,294 metres in the Queen Stage. Austrian soil is reached with 13 kilometres done, and on it goes. The first hills appear after 30 kilometres, but actually this is really nothing compared to what the stage has in store.

After an 18.5 kilometres climb at 4.6% the Hochtannberg Pass is crested. Peaking at 1,650 metres we are now 85.5 kilometres into the race. On rolling roads the riders head for the Arlberg Pass, located at 1,780 metres and reached after 111 kilometres. Time to plunge down.

In the valley the route continues on flat roads until Oetz, which is reached after 179 kilometres. From there on the roads are a false flat penetrating the Ötztal valley. In Sölden the riders turn right for a long and steady closing climb all the way up to the Rettenbachferner. But while your usual steady climb averages 7%, this 12.1 kilometres monster comes with an average grade of 10.8%.

At the line, time bonuses at 10, 6 and 4 seconds lay waiting, while intermediate sprints come with 3, 2 and 1 seconds each.

Race report/race results Queen Stage, 2016 Tour de Suisse.