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).
-
'Bonne soirée, Lille' - Parade of riders at Tour de France teams presentation delights crowd with new team kits, national colours and free bottles
Defending champion Tadej Pogačar impresses crowd surrounding Column of the Goddess statue with comments in local language -
'He's the best climber in the world' – Tadej Pogačar praises Tour de France rival Jonas Vingegaard as rivalry enters next chapter
World champion 'hopes to live up to expectations' in search of fourth yellow jersey -
WorldTour Ceratizit Pro and US powerhouses Aegis Cycling and Fount Cycling among final squads confirmed for Maryland Cycling Classic Women
Field of 15 teams with six riders each solidified for inaugural UCI race in Maryland in nine weeks -
'Without bad things, you don't know what the good things are' - Primož Roglič forlorn and philosophical about Tour de France chances
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe reveals how much he suffered after Giro d'Italia crash
