Tour de Suisse 2026: The Route

This year’s Tour de Suisse has been condensed into five stages, each starting and finishing in the same town. The riders face a total of 11,751 metres of elevation gain across 634.5 kilometres. After three hilly stages, the fight for the overall title is set to be decided by the time trial and the Queen Stage during the final weekend.

First published on 12 June 2026

Race dates: Wednesday 17 June – Sunday 22 June
Race type: Tour de France warm-up race
Key stages: 4 and 5
Favourites: Tadej Pogacar, Lenny Martinez, Primoz Roglic, Richard Carapaz

Stage-by-stage breakdown - 2026 Tour de Suisse

Stage 1 - 144.0 kilometres, 2,455 metres of elevation gain
The Tour de Suisse gets underway in Italy. Starting and finishing in Sondrio, stage 1 opens on flat to undulating terrain before transforming into a demanding hilly stage. The final 85 kilometres are littered with steep gradients, culminating in a 1.1-kilometre wall at 12.2%, followed by a plunge down to the finish line.

Stage 2 - 157.7 kilometres, 2,110 metres of elevation gain
On day two, the riders face a stage with a similar set-up, although the flat section comes later this time. Soon after the start in Locarno, the riders head into the hills, which they do not leave until 100 kilometres from the finish. After dozens of kilometres on flat to rolling roads, two climbs appear in the final 17 kilometres. The last one rises for 1.4 kilometres at 9.3%, before a descent to the finish.

Stage 3 - 157.9 kilometres, 2,690 metres of elevation gain
It is time for the longer climbs, although they come so far from the finish that they are unlikely to concern the GC contenders. After a short and steep ramp from the start, the longer climbing begins at around 30 kilometres in. The riders crest the highest point 35 kilometres later, followed by a rolling section and a descent into the final 57 kilometres on flat roads. The stage both starts and finishes in Bad Ragaz.

Stage 4 - 23.8 kilometres, 160 metres of elevation gain
The individual time trial is laid out on a course to the west of Aarburg. It features straight roads at the start and finish, with a more technical section in the middle. This also includes the only uphill stretch of the course, 560 metres at 3.9%.

Stage 5 - 151.1 kilometres, 4,226 metres of elevation gain
The final stage consists of three laps of the same circuit starting and finishing in Villars-sur-Ollon. As a result, the riders tackle the Col de la Croix - 19.1 kilometres at 7.1% - three times. The stage starts on the final part of that climb, while the finish is located well below the summit, eaving a final ascent of 9.6 kilometres at an average gradient of 8%.