The 88th edition of the Tour of Switzerland starts this Sunday with a remarkable absence: Primoz Roglic It will not take the exit in Vaduz. The leader of Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohewhich appeared as possible last minute incorporation after its abandonment in the Tour of Italy, has finally chosen to focus all its preparation on the Tour of France. This decision prevents him from completing the only great return of one week that he lacks in his impressive palmraés.
With titles in Itzulia, Tyrrhenian-Adriatic, Paris-Niza, Romandía, Dauphiné and La Volta to Catalunya, the Slovenian cyclist has made a name dominating the tests in stages. His absence in Switzerland leaves a pending account to ignore, although understandable since the priority objective remains the yellow jersey (or the podium) in Paris.
Sin Pogacar, Vingegaard Ni Evenepoel, They compete or rest after the Dauphiné, the great favorite to conquer the Alpine round is the Portuguese Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates), which arrives in full form after his triumphs in Itzulia and the return to Romandía. The Portuguese, who will act as a gregarious of Pogacar in the Tour, presents himself in Switzerland as a single leader and with the ambition to expand his host of successes in 2025.
The race, which is played from June 15 to 22, consists of eight stages with more than 20,000 meters of unevenness. Among the rivals of Almeida are Geraint Thomas (INEOS), winner in 2022; the Spanish Pello Bilbao (Bahrain), which arrives with ambition; and runners such as Alexander Vlasov, Harold Tejada or Tao Geoghegan Hart.
Movistar presents a competitive block with Nairo Quintana as leader and young corridors such as Pelayo Sánchez or Pablo Castrillo with shining options. There will also be attention to Cazetapas such as Alaphilippe, Hirschi, Healy, Mohoric or Ion Izagirre.
The route is balanced, with broken stages, arriving high and a final chrono -scarce between Beckenrid and stockhütte. The Queen stage, on June 19, includes four first -class and final ports in Santa Maria in Calanca, on a day that can be decisive.
To Roglic, Switzerland stays in the inkwell. For Almeida, it can be the scenario where you reaffirm your status as a serious aspiring to everything. The race, without its main dominator in a week, looks for a new owner.
