Tom Dumoulin to return to racing at the Tour de Suisse

Jumbo-Visma have confirmed that their Dutch rider Tom Dumoulin will return to competitive cycling on June 6 when he takes part in the Tour de Suisse

Dumoulin announced in late January he would take a break from cycling to assess his future. The 30-year-old intends to use the Swiss stage race to build fitness ahead of the Olympics in August.

Dumoulin said back in January, “The pressure, the expectations from different parties, I just want to do well for the team, for the sponsors, for my wife, for my family. I want to do well for everybody but over the course of doing that I kind of forgot myself."

The Tour de Suisse 2021 promises a fast time trial and spectacular sprint finishes in the first half, followed by a series of the most demanding mountain stages in recent times, including a mountain time trial and climbs over the triple peaks of Furka-Grimsel-Susten.

The riders of the participating teams will start on Sunday 6 June from Frauenfeld (TG) for the 84th edition of the Tour de Suisse. The route heads counter clockwise to the Lake Zurich region, across the Mittelland into Valais and culminates in the heart of the Alps.

A grand total of 1,013 km and 17,844 metres of climbing.

2021 Tour de Suisse Stages

Stage 1 - Sunday June 6th - Individual Time Trial, 11km

The Tour de Suisse 2021 starts with a short individual time trial in Frauenfeld. On a flat circuit in the northern part of Frauenfeld this promises to be a high speed race against the clock. Time trial specialists will fight for every split second from the first metre.

Will Stefan Küng be able to exploit his home advantage and don the yellow leader’s jersey in Frauenfeld as he did three years ago? He faces competition from young Stefan Bissegger, who, like Küng, also lives in the immediate vicinity of the race course and is one of the strong time trialists in the peloton.

Stage 2 - Monday June 7th - Neuhausen am Rheinfall – Lachen, 183km, 2,819m

The second stage starts at the largest waterfall in Europe. It is the first time that Neuhausen am Rheinfall is a stage location of the Tour de Suisse. To date, the impressive scenery has only been bypassed by the peloton, most recently in 2011.

The KOM is on Oberricken, a mountain pass in canton St. Gallen and runs along the route of St. James. From the top of the pass there is a beautiful view of Lake Zurich, the Linth Plain and the Glarus Alps.

The second stage will be dominated by tactical play, courageous attacks and the chance of grabbing the leader’s jersey.

Stage 3 - Tuesday June 8th - Lachen – Pfaffnau, 183km,  2,490m

The third and longest stage is all about lakes – no less than six lakes are passed along the route. The start is at the Upper Lake Zurich. The route leads along Lake Aegeri over Sattel to Arth-Goldau and Lake Zug. From there it leads over Lake Baldegg and Lake Hallwil to Zofingen.

The field will complete an additional circuit before arriving in Pfaffnau. The third stage has the character of a spring classic due to the hilly terrain, which should make for an exciting race.

Stage 4 - Wednesday June 9th, St. Urban – Gstaad, 171km, 2,096m

Gstaad will be both a finish and a starting point of the Tour. Before the riders reach the finish of stage 4 at the airfield in Gstaad, the Simmental and the climb to Saanenmöser await them.

Whatever the case a fast and exciting race to the finish is anticipated.

Stage 5 - Thursday, June 10th, Gstaad – Leukerbad, 172km, 2,850m

The fifth stage of the Tour gets underway in the picturesque centre of Gstaad. The 17-kilometre climb from the Rhône valley up to Leukerbad delivers all the ingredients for an exciting mountain finish in stage 5. At the foot of the Gemmi Pass at 1,441m, the stage finish is in a side valley west of the Lötschberg railway line.

With the Col du Pillon, a perfect opportunity for possible breakaways is already on offer early in the stage. 

After a rapid descent via Les Diablerets, stage 5 passes the headquarters of the International Cycling Federation UCI in Aigle. Unlike three years ago, this year’s Tour takes a new, less familiar route to Leukerbad. The more difficult ascent leads over an impressive number of serpentine turns to Bratsch and Albinen then on to Leukerbad.

This new climb is guaranteed to shuffle the overall classification and create a few upsets.

Stage 6 - Friday June 11th, Fiesch – Sedrun, 162km, 3,724m

Now the alpine challenges follow thick and fast.  

The 6th stage of the Tour de Suisse heads over Switzerland’s highest road pass, the Nufenen Pass – a warm-up, as it were and the KOM.

For the 36th time in the history of the Tour de Suisse the race crosses the Lukmanier Pass, the second KOM, before the 6th stage finishes this year in Disentis-Sedrun, the race convoy turns left into the final ascent (9km) to Sedrun.

Fiesch, located in the Upper Valais, is in the neighbourhood of the legendary Grimsel, Furka and Nufenen passes. From the Eggishorn you can enjoy a panoramic view of 40 four-thousand-metre peaks and the world-famous Aletsch Glacier.

Stage 7 - Saturday June 12th, Disentis-Sedrun – Andermatt, Individual Time Tria, 23km, 656m

The mountain time trial on Saturday from Disentis over the Oberalp Pass to Andermatt. The Oberalp Pass features a very interesting element in this year’s Tour de Suisse.

Not only can points be collected for the mountain prize, but an intermediate time will also be taken during the time trial. Altitude: 2,046 metres, Length: 13 kilometres, Average gradient: 6.9%

It will be exciting to see whether the pure time trial specialists can prevail or whether a climber or even an all-rounder will take the stage.

For GC contenders, the mountain time trial provides a final opportunity for improvement before the concluding Queen’s Stage on Sunday.

The breathtaking track over the pass with the lighthouse as a backdrop will provide thrilling racing images for cycling fans.

Stage 8 - Sunday June 13th, Queen’s Stage, Circuit Andermatt, 118km, 3,608m

The Tour de Suisse 2021 culminates in a brilliant Queen’s Stage. The demanding alpine circuit passes over the triple peaks of Furka-Grimsel-Susten. 

With four KOMs up for grabs and scarcely any flat sections, the stage reaches a total ascent of 3,600 metres in altitude.

The first pass of the Alpine Circuit of the last stage in 2021 runs over the Furka Pass, KOM Mountain prize for the first to the top. Altitude: 2’436 metres, Length: 13 kilometres, Average gradient: 6.9%

The Grimsel Pass connects the Bernese Oberland with Valais. The pass road winds through narrow gorges past granite rocks and reservoirs. Heading towards Goms, one gets a fantastic view of the Rhone Glacier and the Furka Pass road. This year, for the 12th time, the route of the Tour de Suisse heads over the Grimsel Pass.Length: Altitude: 2,265 metres, 6 kilometres, Average gradient: 6.8%

Last but by no means least, the Sustenpass awaits as the climbing finale of the 2021 Tour de Suisse. It is also the longest climb of the entire tour. The battle for the overall classification will therefore remain exciting until the very last kilometre. Altitude: 2’224 metres. Length: 27 kilometres, Average gradient: 5.9%

It is safe to assume that the 2021 Tour de Suisse will remain exciting and open until the last day!

Ride the 2021 Tour de Suisse on Rouvy

You can already ride selected original routes of the upcoming Tour de Suisse and all five stages of the DigitalSwiss5 at home via ROUVY with your roller trainer and compete against other athletes.

The NEW Tour de Suisse Challenge

Amatuer cyclists can take part in the NEW Tour de Suisse Challenge. The popular sporting event on the original route of the Tour de Suisse is getting a facelift for 2021!
Now amateur riders may complete either four stages or indeed all eight stages of this year’s Tour de Suisse on the original route on the same day as the professionals. The start is in the morning before the pros. Cyclists will ride in groups led by professional TdS Challenge Road Coaches, such as former elite riders Sandro Muhl and Lukas Winterberg.

Amatuer cyclists are also accompanied by masseurs and a mechanic and stay in the same hotels as the professional teams. With optional additional packages, participants can customise their adventure and are guaranteed an unforgettable cycling experience.

Further information and registration is available here.