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This weekend marks the end of the men's Tour de Suisse, but at the same time, the Tour de Suisse Women begins. This way, the organizers turn the country into the epicenter of the cycling world for a weekend, while also optimizing resources, as both Saturday and Sunday the men's and women's stages share routes.

Route

The women's race consists of four stages, from Saturday to Tuesday. As mentioned, the first two stages coincide with the last two stages of the Men's Tour de Suisse, although the inaugural stage on Saturday will take one lap instead of two on the mountainous circuit in Villars-sur-Ollon, forming a short stage of 58.9 km but with a notable elevation gain of 1420 meters. On Sunday, the individual time trial is identical to that of the men's race, a 15 km uphill ITT with an elevation gain of 875 meters. The last two stages present medium mountain profiles where a beautiful fight is expected to be in the breakaway and for the stage victory, as it is possible that the general classification will already be decided after the weekend.

Favorites

Demi Vollering (1200) has been the dominant force in stage races this season and once again starts as the woman to beat. Other contenders for the general classification are Katarzyna Niewiadoma (1000), Elisa Longo Borghini (1200), Elise Chabbey (1000), Gaia Realini (800), Kristen Faulkner (800), Marta Cavalli (800) or Vollering's teammate, Niamh Fisher-Black (800). Meanwhile, we will see what Marianne Vos (1000)'s intentions are, as she comes off winning the general classification in the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya Femenina. However, the competition in this race will be much stronger, and her objective will likely be to contend for victory in the last two stages.

Photo: © Sam Buchli / Tour de Suisse