The Tour de Suisse () is an annual road cycling stage race. Raced over eight days, the event covers two weekends in June, and along with the Critérium du Dauphiné, it is considered a proving ground for the Tour de France, which is on the calendar approximately two weeks after the end of the Tour de Suisse. Since 2011 the event is part of the UCI World Tour, cycling's highest level of professional races.
From 2021, a women's race has been held at the same time, with the event joining the UCI Women's World Tour from 2023.
History The men's race was first held in 1933 and has evolved in timing, duration and sponsorship. Like the Tour de France and the Dauphiné, the Tour de Suisse has historically had several stages with significant mountain climbs in the Swiss Alps and at least one individual time trial. Several winners of the Tour de Suisse have also won the Tour de France, including Eddy Merckx and Jan Ullrich. In 2005 the Tour de Suisse was included in the inaugural UCI Pro Tour and organisers moved the race to earlier in June.
In 2026, the men's race was shortened to 5 stages and held in conjunction with the women's race owing to reduced budget and logistical issues. Winner of the 2026 men's race Tadej Pogačar welcomed "women and men being part of the same race at the same time".
The first winner of the men's race was Austrian Max Bulla in the 1933 edition. The rider with most wins is Italian Pasquale Fornara who won the men's race four times in the 1950s.
Women's race A women's race was first held in 1998, won by Lithuanian rider Rasa Polikevičiūtė. Three further editions were held between 1999 and 2001. The event was restarted in 2021 in conjunction with the men's event, taking place over two days. In 2022, the race was lengthened to four days and became part of the UCI Women's ProSeries. In 2023 the race joined the UCI Women's World Tour. The race was originally considered a proving ground for the Giro d'Italia Women, which followed the race on the calendar. In 2026, the race was extended to 5 days, taking place in conjunction with the men's race.
The rider with the most wins is Swiss rider Marlen Reusser, with three overall victories in 2023, 2025 and 2026.
Winners
Men's race
Women's race
Men's race statistics
Multiple winners
Rider Country Titles YearPasquale Fornara41952, 1954, 1957, 1958Ferdinand Kübler31942, 1948, 1951Hugo Koblet31950, 1953, 1955Rui Costa32012, 2013, 2014Gino Bartali21946, 1947Hans Junkermann21959, 1962Louis Pfenninger21968, 1972Beat Breu21981, 1989Sean Kelly21983, 1990Andrew Hampsten21986, 1987Simon Špilak22015, 2017
By country Wins Country 23 20 8 4 (including ) 3 2 1
See also List of highest paved roads in Switzerland
Notes
References
Sources
External links