Stage 5 | Thursday, 15 June | Fiesch - La Punt | 211 kilometres
The main route of stage 5 takes the riders far to the east and thus deeper into the Swiss Alps. The first kilometres of the day are almost dead straight. This only changes when the serpentines of the first of three major Alpine passes are approached. After just under 39 kilometres, the Furka Pass is reached - at 2436 metres, the roof of the Tour de Suisse 2023. The route leads uphill for more than 16 kilometres with a relatively even elevation gain of 1000 metres - this results in the first HC climb of the tour.
After the summit, a descent to Andermatt is on the programme before the next major difficulty awaits with the Oberalp Pass (1st category). This is also more than ten kilometres long and almost six per cent steep. Once at the top, a short recovery break awaits in the middle section of the stage. The next 50 kilometres are mainly downhill.
After an intermediate wave, the finale is more or less heralded after 160 kilometres. Initially, the profile rises slightly and the intermediate sprint is on the cards. Then it slowly gets steeper: the Albula Pass (HC) has to be conquered. 17.2 kilometres at 6.7 per cent are the biggest obstacle of the tour. In the middle of the climb, there is also the double sprint for the bonus seconds.
But it doesn't end at the summit of the Albula Pass. The finish in la Punt is at the end of a ten-kilometre descent. The last 500 metres of the stage are slightly uphill again.
Sporting assessment of the 5th stage
The queen stage is scheduled for the middle of the tour. 4700 metres in altitude have to be climbed, mainly spread over three long climbs. However, only the Albula Pass will decide the outcome of the stage. And not just the ascent, but also the descent. And perhaps even more so than the uphill section.
A certain amount of risk-taking is therefore required to win the stage. All GC riders who want to go to the Tour will not want to take that risk just before the season highlight. And Remco Evenepoel (Soudal - Quick Step) will be able to do without it. Drivers like Thomas Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers), Neilson Powless (EF Education EasyPost) or Marc Hirschi (UAE Team Emirates) in front of a home crowd, either out of an early breakaway group or with an attack on the last climb.
Schedule, TV coverage & live stream of stage 5 of the Tour de Suisse 2023
The stage starts at 10:35 am. With expected average speeds of 34 to 38 km/h, the riders should arrive in La Punt between 16:16 and 16:55.
The Tour de Suisse 2023 will not be shown on German television. In Switzerland, however, the German-language channel SRF 2 will broadcast the 5th stage live from 14:35. At this time, the paid live streams from GCN+, Discovery+ and thus also Eurosport will also be added to the programme.
Tour de Suisse - Stage 5: The most important information at a glance
- High mountain stage over 211 kilometres
- Start of the stage: 10:35 am
- Estimated arrival time: between 16:16 and 16:55
- TV broadcast: in Switzerland on SRF 2 from 14:35
- Live stream: GCN+, Discovery+ and Eurosport from 14:35
