With the high mountains rearing up on stage five, today’s race represents the last chance for sprinters such as Tom Boonen, Robbie McEwen, Oscar Freire and Erik Zabel to take an important pre-Tour victory against their green jersey rivals. On paper the stage looks moderate enough for a bunch sprint but the climbs in this Tour de Suisse climbs have perhaps proved tougher than their ranking suggests, so anything could happen.
The 161.3 kilometre route from Niederbipp to La Chaux-de-Fonds features a bonus sprint after 75.3 kilometres on Mont Soleil. Both the name and the profile map suggest that this is a climb but it has not be classified accordingly. The second bonus sprint comes at La Ferrière, 101.4 kilometres in, while third categorie climbs await at Vue des Alpes and Col de la Tourne (118.8 km and 143.4 kilometres respectively).
-
USA CRITS: Laurel Rathbun and Marcos Mendoz win Sunny King Criterium to begin eight-race series
Caldera Medical x Aurea Racing and Foundation Cycling New York set the tone with two riders each on the podium -
Rohan Dennis complains of media harassment and 'false narrative' after Melissa Hoskins' death in 2023
'They come after me for cheap clicks. Pathetic journalism,' says Australian -
Redlands Bicycle Classic: Ella Sabo and Kent Ross win stage 5 while Lauren Stephens and Eder Frayre secure overall titles
2023 champion Emily Ehrlich finishes second for elite women while Owen Cole repeats on GC podium for second year -
'It's the last one for me, that's for sure' - Final Paris-Roubaix for Luke Durbridge as Australian announces impending retirement
Six-time Australian national champion Luke Durbridge will make 2027 Road Nationals his final competition
