Tour de Suisse Women Overall and Stage 1 Preview

 Short and sweet at four stages totaling 327.4 km, the organizers have cooked up a challenging route with many of the top riders showing up as preparation for the Giro.

Stage 1 profile from procyclingstats.com


 

The first stage will be fast and furious at only 56.5 km in length but with a brutish finishing climb. There will be no warm-up period for the GC in this race, and everyone who's not a contender will be weeded out here. A break will get away on the first climb, but will be reeled in after the sprint point in the valley.

Stage 2 profile from procyclingstats.com

 

There is no respite on the second day, which is a 16 km TT from the UCI headquarters in Aigle back up to the ski resort where things will have kicked off the previous day. Over 800m of climbing in under 20 km, this TT is one for the climbers. The men's race will be utilizing the same TT course as well.

Stage 3 profile from procyclingstats.com

 

Looks like a breakaway stage, walks like a breakaway stage, but SD Worx is here, so it's a GC day. Rolling parcours all the way, Vollering's going to hammer that last climb and try to go solo to the line.

Stage 4 profile from procyclingstats.com

 

This stage might actually go to the break. Another one without big climbs, but is challenging throughout. I expect a strong break of riders whose GC bids didn't pan out to go up the road on one of the categorized climbs and stay away.

Contenders

DEMI VOLLERING -- Had quite the month of May, winning three stages races in Spain and accumulating five stage wins in the process, she comes here the rider to beat on GC. And it's not out of the realm of possibility she'll be looking for three wins out of four here. Barring disaster, or the team actually riding for the rider wearing the number 1 bib (NIAMH FISHER-BLACK), she should win going away.
 
ÉVITA MUZIC -- Outsprinted Vollering to the line to win a stage in la Vuelta, she seems to be the one closest to matching Vollering on the climbs right now. Hasn't won since la Vuelta, but the good form has carried over to races since then with a number of runners-up finishes. 

ELISA LONGO BOURGHINI -- On fire this year...a nice podium in la Vuelta, and hasn't raced since. Should be in great form for this race ahead of the Giro, we'll find out. The length of the climb in the first stage is a bit of a concern for a GC bid, but the last three stages are well-suited to the Italian.

KASIA NIEWIADOMA -- Dropped out of la Vuelta due to illness and hasn't race since. Was having a great season up 'til then, and I expect that will continue here. I would think anything less than a GC podium is a disappointment.

KIM CADZOW -- The revelation of la Vuelta? The Kiwi put in several very impressive climbing performances in Spain and also signed a new deal with EF, the self confidence should be running quite high right now. Will be a contender for a win in the TT and could challenge for a GC podium.

JULIETTE LABOUS -- Fourth in the GC at la Vuelta, but never really seemed to seriously challenge for the win on any of the stages. With the Olympics in about six weeks, she is another who will be looking to start to sharpen up and should be taking the GC seriously here.

Prediction

Demi Vollering to win both stage 1 and the overall. Predicted final podium is Vollering, Muzic, Niewiadoma.

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