The route of the 2013 Tour de Romandie was presented at a press conference in the Swiss town of Marly. The six-day stage race, to be run between April 23rd and 28th next year, is part of the International Cycling Union (UCI) WorldTour, and so all 18 first division ProTeams will be invited - and, indeed, expected - to attend. The race has confirmed that new Swiss Professional Continental team IAM Cycling, while a 20th team may also be invited at a later date.
The TDR foundation which puts on the race, chaired by race ‘creator’ Yves Christen, is pleased that, once again, it has presented an event whose expenditure is under control; this, the foundation feels, assures the Tour de Romandie’s permanent survival.
“When it comes to finance, the Tour de Romandie today is in robust health,” said Christen. “The financial risks are well under control. All the investments and costs are fully self-financing. The 2013 budget stands at 4.5 million.”
The race will begin with a 7.45km long prologue time trial, between Le Châble and Bruson, in the very south of the French-speaking Swiss region, which will be more than twice as long as the Lausanne opener the previous year. This will be followed by a stage between Saint-Maurice and Renens, on the outskirts of Lausanne, on the northern shore of Lake Geneva. The following day will see the race move north from nearby Prilly to Grenchen (Granges), which is the hometown of BMC bikes - as well as many of Switzerland’s watchmakers - and is where the Swiss velodrome will be inaugurated in 2013.
The following stage will take in three - likely hilly - circuits around Payerne, close to Lake Neuchâtel; the penultimate day will see the race’s big mountain stage, as it heads south again from Marly, across four mountain passes, to the ski resort of Les Diablerets.
The race will finish with a spectacular 18.6km time trial around the city of Geneva, where the race will likely be decided.
“Some people felt that the 2012 route was too easy,” said race director Richard Chassot. “This time, it would be hard to choose a more selective route. This will be a great show. That is my fondest hope shared by the public”.
The 2012 edition saw Team Sky’s Bradley Wiggins became the first British rider to win the race in its 66-year history, as part of the incredible season that culminated with Tour de France victory and Olympic Gold.
Tour de Romandie 2013 (April 23rd - 28th) stages
Prologue: Le Châble - Bruson ITT, 7.45km
Stage 1: Saint Maurice - Renens, 176.8km
Stage 2: Prilly - Granges, 190.3km
Stage 3: Payerne - Payerne, 181km
Stage 4: Marly - Les Diablerets, 188.5km
Stage 5: Geneva ITT, 18.6km