Tour de Suisse 2018 Route stage 4: Gansingen – Gstaad

The Saanenmöser featured in the 2016 Tour de France and the 2017 Tour de Romandie. Both stages were won by climbers, namely Ilnur Zakarin and Simon Yates. But it’s highly unlikely that the Tour de Suisse’s 4th stage will see a mountain goat’s showdown. The Saanenmöser is basically the only climb of the day.

Following the start the route takes in two minor climbs in the first 40 kilometres. After that, the Tour de Suisse continues on a rolling false flat. The elevation gain in 100 kilometres is 400 metres, so that’s an average gradient of next to nothing: 0.4%.

With 18 kilometres left to race the riders hit the Saanenmöser. Following the 8.1 kilometres climb at 4.2% and the ensuing descent the last 2 kilometres are on the flat.

The races finishes on Saanen Airport, just outside of Gstaad. Five times before the Tour de Suisse finished in in Gstaad. In 1994, 1972, 1969, 1951 and 1950, so it’s been a while.

The first three riders on the line win time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds, while the intermediate sprints (at kilometre 131.8 and at kilometre 171.9) come with 3, 2 and 1 seconds each.

The 4th stage of the Tour de Suisse starts at 12:40 and the finish is expected at 17:20 – both local times.