Tour de Suisse 2016 Route stage 9: Davos - Davos

Sunday, June 19, 2016 – At 57.3 kilometres, stage 9 is a shortened version of the Davos-Davos stage that was scheduled. Because of bad weather the Albula Pass is skipped at the eleventh hour and now the race only leads over the Fuela Pass. The start is in La Punt. When cresting the Fuela Pass there is 17.5 kilometres left to race, which means the 2016 Tour de Suisse ends with a descent.

[Underneath you'll find the original route. As said, the Albula Pass has been skipped.]

At an elevation of 1,560 metres Davos is the highest town in Europe. Straight after the start the riders plunge down to Alvaneu Bad at 950 metres, which reached after 26.8 kilometres. From there the tarmac starts to point skyward and gently the climb up the Albula Pass takes shape. Officially the climb begins in Bergün and if you calculate it like this the clambering up the pass takes 13.8 kilometres, while the average gradient is 6.9% and the steepest sections are 12%.

At the top you are at an elevation of 2,315 metres. The descent is long, but only the first 10 kilometres are steep. Then a gentle drop takes the riders to the foot of the closing climb, which is is reached after almost 90 kilometres.

The Flüela Pass means a 12.9 kilometres toil at 7.4%. Peaking at 2,383 metres it is the fifth highest pass in Switzerland. After the plunge down in 12 kilometres the last 5.5 kilometres in the 2016 Tour de Suisse are flat to slightly downhill.

Last year the Tour de Suisse concluded with an individual time trial. Won by Tom Dumoulin, the real spectacle was brought by Geraint Thomas and Simon Spilak who were fighting for seconds in a race for the overall victory. Eventually, the Slovenian won.

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 results/race report stage 9, 2016 Tour de Suisse.