FROM MEIRINGEN TO MEIRINGEN

Grüetzi! Have you already ticked off quite a few Grand Cols but have you never been to Switzerland? Then it’s about time! Cycle from Meiringen to Meiringen in seven stages. Experience the Swiss beauty and tranquility and climb the breathtaking Grand Cols of the Tour de Suisse. Of course Switzerland is the Alpine country par excellence, but to cyclists the Swiss cols are less known than those in France and Italy. Yet the Tour of Switzerland is an important race that is often called the ‘fourth Grand Tour’. Rightly so in our opinion because the Swiss cols are in no way inferior to those in neighboring countries in terms of challenge and beauty. We climb, among others: Grimselpass, Furkapass, Julierpass, Passo della Spluga, Sankt Gotthardpass, Susenpass and Grosse Scheidegg. Do you choose the black routes? Then you cycle 650 kilometres and conquer 15,000 metres elevation gain. The red routes count 600 kilometres and a 13,500 metres Elevation gain.

SWISS CLASSICS

We start in Meiringen, near Lake Brienz. Brienz is located in the north of the Alps and is easily accessible from western and northern Europe, also by train. After a warm up stage we find two of the most beautiful Grand Cols in Europe on the program in stage 2: the grim Grimselpass (2,164 metres) and the Furkapass (2,429 metres). These Swiss classics are must-rides for every mountain cyclist! The Grimselpass has an impressive finale with winding roads past massive barrages. The Furkapass is best known for the iconic 19th century Belvédère hotel. It is located in a hairpin bend, near the Rhône Glacier. You may also know this col from a chase scene from the James Bond film Goldfinger, from 1964.

BACK IN TIME

In the last part of the Tour de Suisse the cols remain beautiful! As we climb the Sankt Gotthardpass (2,107 metres) in stage 6, it seems like we are going back in time; the winding road is partly paved with authentic stones and due to the Gotthard tunnel there is very little traffic on the road. Can we make this Grand Col even more beautiful? Yes we can! By mentioning its Italian name: Passo del San Gottardo! In the last stage we climb the Sustenpass (2,224 metres). We seem to be repeating ourselves when we say that this is a beautiful col, but it has to be said! After the descent we arrive back in Meiringen, where one more surprising col awaits us; the Grosse Scheidegg (1,962 metres)!