The opening day of the 2006 Tour de Suisse looks to be very much one for the sprinters. After starting in the Northern Switzerland town of Baden, close to Zurich, the riders head west towards the third category climb of Staffelegg. The road then kinks northwards to Bad Säckinggen before veering back east and taking the riders over the fourth category climb of Baldingen/Rüti, through the feedzone and the bonus sprint at Untersiggenthal (104 km) and then back to Baden for the first passage over the start/finish line.
The peloton will then complete two laps of a 23.2 kilometre finishing circuit, traversing the fourth category Hertenstein climb twice and disputing another bunch sprint at Endingen (119.8 km). A bunch gallop is the most likely outcome, with world champion Tom Boonen, Olympic champion Paolo Bettini, plus former Tour de France maillot vert winners Robbie McEwen and Erik Zabel all likely to be involved.
-
UCI Gravel World Series: Brendan Johnston and Tiffany Cromwell claim victory at SEVEN as field samples World Championships course
2024 winner Johnston leaves defending champion Mark O'Brien in his wake on dash to line, Cromwell delivers again by attacking to fly solo -
Reliving the Giro d'Italia's first GC battle on the Blockhaus - Gallery
All the best photos from the first summit finish of the 2026 Corsa Rosa -
Giro d'Italia penalties, fines and yellow cards – All the punishments handed out at the 2026 race
Tracking the rule infringements and penalties accrued on the road from Bulgaria to Rome -
Jonas Vingegaard takes control of Giro d'Italia on Blockhaus as expected, but should the narrow gap to Felix Gall be a cause for concern? – GC analysis
Where the Austrian is lacking as a contender for pink and a dive into why the Dane shouldn't be firing on all cylinders just yet
