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How to Watch the Tour de Suisse—The Hardest Tour de France Tune-Up Race

This mountainous 8-day stage race is the hardest non-grand tour of the season, and one of the sport’s best stage racers—Remco Evenepoel—is using it to start his comeback.

The 86th Tour de Suisse starts this Sunday with a 12.7km individual time trial in Einsiedeln to determine the first rider to pull on the yellow jersey as the overall leader of the mountainous 8-day stage race.

This year’s Tour de Suisse covers 1097km (680mi) over eight stages. The race opens with Stage 1, a short (12.7km) individual time trial in Einsiedeln that should begin sorting the General Classification. Stage 2 is lumpy, making it the perfect chance for a breakaway to go all the way to the finish in Nottwil–although the sprinters’ teams will do their best to take advantage of one of the few flat finishes in this year’s race.

Stage 3 brings the race into the mountains, with the Category 1 Col des Mosses followed by the race’s first summit finish: the Category 1 climb to Villars-sur-Ollon. Stage 4 starts flat, but ends with three categorized climbs: the Category 1 climb to Crans Montana (which will be familiar to those who watched this year’s Giro d’Italia); the Category 3 climb to Varenstrasse; and the Category 1 climb to the finish in Leukerbad, which summits just before a brief descent followed by a sharp uphill drag to the finish line. By the end of the day, the true contenders will have emerged.

Stage 5 is leg-breaker at 211km, with two major climbs early (including the first hors categorie climb of the race), followed by a long downhill to flat section on the valley road and a second hors categorie climb (the Albulapass) before a fast descent to the finish line in La Punt. Stage 6 is the longest of the race at 216km and starts with a climb back up the Albulapass before a jagged ride to the finish in Oberwil-Lieli, where a short (2.4km) climb to the finish line awaits the riders.

Stage 7 is billed as a day for sprinters, but with another lumpy profile featuring four categorized climbs–the last of which is summited just 20km from the finish line–it’s no wonder that most of the world’s best sprinters have chosen other events for their pre-Tour prep.

The race concludes with Stage 8, a 26km individual time trial from St. Gallen to Abtwil that will settle the score one and for all. Any climbers wishing to win the race will need a fairly large advantage (at least a minute) to hold time trialists within sight of the yellow jersey at bay.

How to Watch

A subscription to FloBikes ($150/year or $12.50/month) is the only legal way to stream the race in the USA and Canada, with all eight stages available live and on-demand via FloBikes.com, the FloSports IOS app, and the FloSports app for Amazon FireTV, Roku, and Apple TV. We’ve also been told that a good VPN allows GCN+ subscribers to watch the race with their current subscriptions, but we’ve never given it a try.

What Happened Last Year

Great Britain’s Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers) won the 2022 Tour de Suisse, giving us a preview of the fitness that helped him finish third overall at the Tour de France a little over a month later. The 2018 Tour de France champion kept himself near the top of the GC, waiting until the final time trial to make him move. He finished second on the final stage to Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel, topping the General Classification by 1:12 over Colombia’s Sergio Higuita and 1:16 over Denmark’s Jakob Fuglsang.

Riders to Watch

Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step)—Evenepoel had won two stages and was wearing the maglia rosa as the overall leader of the 2023 Giro d’Italia heading into the race’s first Rest Day; but he tested positive for COVID-19 later that evening and was forced to abandon the race, his biggest goal of the season. After a brief rest he got back on his bike, and is now looking to reboot his season here. Assuming he regained some of the fitness he brought to the Giro , he’s the top favorite–especially with individual time trials book-ending the 8-day event. We’re hoping he dominates, forcing his team to send him to the Tour.

Sergio Higuita (BORA-hansgrohe)—Last year’s runner-up, Higuita is back to try and win the race outright. He’s a talented climber who should thrive when the race hits the mountains , but the race’s two time trials will challenge him. His best bet is to limit his losses to Evenepoel in the time trials, then exploit the Belgian’s time away from the bike in the mountains.

Wout van Aert ( Jumbo-Visma )—Belgium’s Wout van Aert has previously used the Critérium du Dauphiné (which takes a place a week earlier) to put the finishing touches on his form for the Tour de France . But this year he’s heading to the Tour de Suisse, most likely because he’s targeting the world championships in Glasgow–which this year will be held a few weeks after the Tour de France. That said, with two time trials and a few stages with profiles that look perfect for a Classics rider, van Aert should come away with a stage win or two.

Tom Pidcock (INEOS Grenadiers)—Great Britain’s Tom Pidock is still trying to figure out what kind of rider he wants to be. Like van Aert and the Netherland’s Mathieu van der Poel , he’s one of the world’s best in a variety of disciplines, having won a world cyclocross championship, the Olympic mountain bike race, and a Tour de France stage to Alpe d’Huez. The Tour de Suisse should give us a chance to see if he has what it takes to lead his team at a major stage race, possibly setting him up to lead INEOS at a grand tour next season.

Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost)—American Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) gets better and better each year. This year he’s already won two races and scored top-10 finishes in some of the spring’s biggest events (like Paris-Nice, Milan-Sanremo, and the Tour of Flanders). He’s likely targeting stages at the Tour de Suisse, but we won’t rule-out a high GC finish for the 26-year-old (he finished fourth last year). Next he’s off to the Tour, where a stage win will be his goal.

Peter Sagan (TotalEnergies)—This is the final season for Slovakia’s Peter Sagan , and it’s fitting that he’s returning to the race that he’s previously used to hone his form for the Tour de France , winning 18 stages over the course of his storied career. He’s not the rider he once was, but with most of the world’s best field sprinters opting for other events, he has a chance to win one more stage here before his retirement .

Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty)—One of last year’s revelations, Eritrea’s Biniam Girmay has had a rough season so far, winning only one race–way back on February 1st. But he finished fourth in last weekend’s Brussels Cycling Classic, a sign that his form is heading in the right direction as he prepares for his first Tour de France . Girmay’s perfect for the type of “sprint” finishes in this year’s Tour de Suisse, and a stage victory would give him the confidence he needs heading into his first Tour.

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Huge Mountains On The Menu! | Tour De Suisse 2022 Men's Stage 6 Highlights

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After five days of skirmishing in the hills, the real war for the yellow jersey begins as the peloton heads deep into the high-mountains for the first time. Two gargantuan mountain passes lie in wait - the hors catégories Nufenen Pass (21.7km at 5.8%) and Moosalp (17.6km at 7.2%). Expect fireworks!

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The Tour de Suisse 2024 promises yet again to be a challenging test. This year, the riders must complete 950 kilometres and almost 19,000 metres in altitude. Only the best climbers will have a shot at overall victory. Stage wins on the other hand will be up for grabs for different types of riders. In addition to the four mountain finishes on the Gotthard Pass, in Carì (TI), in Blatten (VS) and Villars-sur-Ollon (VD), the sprint and classics specialists will have the chance to win on the stages to Regensdorf and Rüschlikon (both ZH). True time trial specialists will be under the spotlight at the start in Vaduz. The second time trial to Villars-sur-Ollon on the final weekend is more for the climbers and it is here that the Tour de Suisse 2024 will be ultimately decided.

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Swiss Mader resuscitated after crashing into ravine

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Cyclist Gino Mäder, 26, dies after a high-speed crash in the Swiss Alps

Bill Chappell

Team Bahrain cyclist Gino Mäder of Switzerland died after suffering a terrible crash in the Tour de Suisse. He's seen here at the 2021 Giro d'Italia road race, wearing the blue jersey signifying the best climber. Dario Belingheri/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

Team Bahrain cyclist Gino Mäder of Switzerland died after suffering a terrible crash in the Tour de Suisse. He's seen here at the 2021 Giro d'Italia road race, wearing the blue jersey signifying the best climber.

Swiss cyclist Gino Mäder died Friday, one day after suffering a terrible crash during a mountain descent in stage 5 of the Tour de Suisse. Both Mäder and another racer, Magnus Sheffield of the U.S., were taken to the hospital after they were hurled into a ravine in the Swiss Alps.

Mäder, 26, crashed during the "queen stage" of the race — the label given to a multistage road race's most challenging and grueling days, which usually involve multiple ascents and test even the strongest riders.

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After reaching the Albula Pass at a height just under 7,600 feet, Mäder and other riders faced a roughly 10-kilometer descent , racing down to the stage's finish line. In that segment, a motorcycle camera unit following the race leader clocked speeds of around 100 kph (62 mph).

It's not known precisely what led to the crash; TV broadcasts of the race didn't seem to catch the moment that sent the two riders off the road. "The circumstances of the accident are being clarified," race organizers said on Thursday.

After Mäder's death, the Graubünden cantonal police said on Friday that it is investigating the crash, along with the public prosecutor's office. The police issued a call for witnesses to come forward, particularly if they have video evidence.

The crash came in a high-speed portion of the course

During the descent, the two riders "crashed at very high speed," race organizers said. Another rider, Roland Thalmann, described the scene.

"After a long curve, two bikes were lying on the side of the road, which didn't look nice," Thalmann said, according to Cycling News . "When I looked back, I saw that two riders were quite far down."

Paint outlines of what look to be two tire tracks leading off the road at the curve where Swiss rider Gino Mäder fell during a high-speed descent of the fifth stage of the Tour de Suisse. Mäder, 26, died from injuries he sustained when he plunged into a ravine. Arnd Wiegmann/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

Paint outlines of what look to be two tire tracks leading off the road at the curve where Swiss rider Gino Mäder fell during a high-speed descent of the fifth stage of the Tour de Suisse. Mäder, 26, died from injuries he sustained when he plunged into a ravine.

"The race doctor was on the scene of the accident within two minutes," organizers said. Dr. Roland Kretsch found Sheffield, 21, responsive, with a concussion and bruises. Mäder was in far worse condition in a creek, as he "lay motionless in the water," according to organizers.

The medical team was able to resuscitate Mäder, and he was airlifted to a hospital. Kretsch later told SRF that the cyclists were found far below the roadway, and that Mäder had injuries to his head area.

Mäder's death stuns the cycling world

"Our entire team is devastated by this tragic accident, and our thoughts and prayers are with Gino's family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time," Mäder's cycling squad, Team Bahrain Victorious, said as it announced his death.

"Today and every day, we ride for you, Gino," the team said.

An aerial photo from June 16, 2023, shows the curve where Swiss rider Gino Mäder crashed during a high-speed descent in the Tour de Suisse. Arnd Wiegmann/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

An aerial photo from June 16, 2023, shows the curve where Swiss rider Gino Mäder crashed during a high-speed descent in the Tour de Suisse.

After the tragic news emerged, cyclists rode an extremely shortened sixth stage of the Tour de Swiss as a memorial to Mäder, with organizers saying the peloton, or main pack of cyclists, would ride only the final 20 kilometers of the planned course under "neutralized" conditions, meaning competition is suspended.

At Friday's finish line, a large crowd turned out to applaud Mäder's six teammates as they crossed the finish line together.

🇨🇭 #Tourdesuisse In honour of Gino! @tds #RideAsOne pic.twitter.com/3jX6WD4BFq — Team Bahrain Victorious (@BHRVictorious) June 16, 2023

The new plan followed another last-minute change, after an avalanche blocked Friday's planned route in the mountains.

In 2021, Mäder won the best young cyclist's white jersey at La Vuelta, Spain's 21-stage race. He took fifth place in that race — the same spot he earned earlier this year, in the eight-day Paris-Nice race.

The Tour de Suisse isn't one of road cycling's three "Grand Tour" races, but with eight stages and plenty of high mountains, it's widely seen as a key tune-up for the Tour de France in July.

Race course layout is put under scrutiny

After Thursday's crash, Belgian rider Remco Evenepoel, the reigning world champion, criticized the race course's layout, as he sent his hopes for recovery to riders who crashed.

I hope all the guys that were involved in a crash are okay!! 🙏🏻❤️ I hope that the final of today's stage is food for thought for both cycling organisers as well as ourselves as riders. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/UZm6sRwiez — Remco Evenepoel (@EvenepoelRemco) June 15, 2023

"While a summit finish would have been perfectly possible, it wasn't a good decision to let us finish down this dangerous descent," Evenepoel said . "As riders, we should also think about the risks we take going down a mountain."

Evenepoel posted that message on Thursday, before news of Mäder's death emerged.

In many stage races with famously imposing mountains, organizers place the finish line at the very top of the mountain, or just beyond it.

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Thursday's stage included three mountain passes, with the first (Furka) and last (Albula) rated as "Hors Catégorie" — a designation reserved for ultra-steep climbs that are beyond cycling's normal 5-level categorization for mountains.

"We will see the best climbers in action again, but the last kilometers will also require a large dose of courage and honed descent skills," the race's official guide stated . It promised that the closing kilometers, descending from the Albula Pass to the mountain village of La Punt, "will be something to see."

Mäder died exactly 75 years after the only other death in the Tour de Suisse, which came when Richard Depoorter crashed in a dim tunnel and was run over by an escort vehicle in 1948, according to Swiss broadcaster RSF .

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A cinq jours de son entrée en lice dans le Championnat du monde, la Suisse a forcé la décision grâce à des réussites inscrites lors du premier tiers par Dario Simion et par Calvin Thürkauf. Elle doit aussi son succès à Leonardo Genoni qui a parfaitement livré la marchandise pour rappeler qu’il demeurait le gardien no 1 du pays. Il n’a rien pu faire sur la réduction du score à la 57e du défenseur Jakub Krejcik.

La Suisse a bénéficié d’une certaine réussite sur l’ouverture du score de Simion à la 9e minute. Le Zougois s’est, en effet, retrouvé dans une position idéale après une déviation du patin de Fabrice Herzog sur un lancer de Michael Fora. A 16’’ de la sirène de ce premier tiers, Thürkaud doublait la mise en backhand sur une rupture amenée par Philipp Kurashev.

Cette efficacité retrouvée lors du premier tiers, un esprit de corps très marqué tout au long de la rencontre et la forme affichée par Genoni, qui a réussi un arrêt déterminant à la 5e minute face à Ondrej Palat alors que la Suisse évoluait à cinq contre quatre, insufflent une confiance mesurée avant le match de vendredi contre la Norvège pour les trois coups du Championnat du monde. Avec les renforts espérés de Nino Niederreiter et de Roman Josi, Patrick Fischer pourra même placer le curseur assez haut.

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Tour de Suisse united in mourning for Gino Mäder

Swiss rider dead at the age of 26 following crash on Albulapass

All thoughts at the Tour de Suisse today are for Gino Mäder, who remains in hospital after his crash on the descent of the Albulapass yesterday afternoon. His Bahrain Victorious team provided its most recent update on his condition yesterday evening, confirming that he had been resuscitated at the scene of the crash and then transported by helicopter to Chur Hospital. Magnus Sheffield was also a faller on the descent, and the Ineos rider spent last night in hospital after being diagnosed with a concussion.

Today’s stage, meanwhile, has been shortened to 141km due to a rock avalanche above Brienz, meaning that the early climbs of the Albulapass and Latsch have been stricken from the route of day that now gets underway at 12.30 CET. Simone Giuliani has more details here .

After yesterday's queen stage, today's 6th stage will start at 12.30 pm in Chur instead of La Punt. A big thank you to the entire staff for making this last-minute postponement possible! Of course, our thoughts are also with Gino Mäder and his family! Stay strong Gino!❤️ pic.twitter.com/gpYaY25nCv June 16, 2023

Mattias Skjelmose (Trek-Segafredo) regained yellow yesterday but it's still very tight atop the overall standings, with Felix Gall (AG2R Citroen) second at 8 seconds, and yesterday's winner, a resurgent Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates), third at 18 seconds. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep), meanwhile, remains firmly in the hunt given the time trial on the final day. The top 10 is as follows:

Gino Mäder, 1997-2023

Bahrain Victorious have announced the death of Gino Mäder following his crash on yesterday's stage.

"It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we have to announce the passing of Gino Mäder. On Friday 16th June, following a very serious crash during stage 5 of the Tour de Suisse, Gino lost his battle to recover from the severe injuries he sustained. Our entire team is devastated by this tragic accident, and our thoughts and prayers are with Gino's family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.

"Following the high-speed incident which occurred on the final descent of Thursday’s stage, the 26 year old was resuscitated at the scene by medical staff who also performed CPR, before being airlifted to hospital.

"Despite the best efforts of the phenomenal staff at Chur hospital, Gino couldn’t make it through this, his final and biggest challenge, and at 11:30am we said goodbye to one of the shining lights of our team.

"Gino was an extraordinary athlete, an example of determination, a valued member of our team and the whole cycling community. His talent, dedication, and passion for the sport has inspired us all.

"Managing Director Milan Erzen commented this morning:” "We are devastated by the loss of our exceptional cyclist, Gino Mäder. His talent, dedication, and enthusiasm were an inspiration to us all. Not only was he an extremely talented cyclist, but a great person off the bike. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones, and our thoughts are with them during this difficult time. Bahrain Victorious will race in his honour, keeping his memory on every road we race. We are determined to show the spirit and passion Gino displayed, and he will always remain an integral part of our team.

"Gino’s family has requested privacy as they mourn their loss, and we kindly ask that their wishes be respected. The team and family express our gratitude for the overwhelming support we have received from the whole cycling world.

"Gino, thank you for the light, the joy, and the laughs you brought us all, we will miss you as a rider and as a person.

"Today and every day, we ride for you, Gino."

Today's stage has been delayed until further notice following the tragic news. I don't see how the riders who raced alongside Gino Mäder yesterday can possibly be expected to climb on their bikes and compete this afternoon.  

We are heartbroken! Gino you've been an excellent rider but even more a wonderful person! Always smilling and making people happy arround you! Rest in peace! Our thoughts are with Gino's family!Below you can find the official statement of @BHRVictorious pic.twitter.com/hqLF8FF5nQ June 16, 2023

In loving memory and deep gratitude for Gino Mäder. You touched our lives, and your presence will forever be cherished. Rest in peace. 🙏 June 16, 2023

🙏🏻 Gino, thank you for the light, the joy, and the laughs you brought us all, we will miss you as a rider and as a person.❤️ Today and every day, we ride for you, Gino.🔗 https://t.co/CSx5BsWfRz pic.twitter.com/caBmfmWwyg June 16, 2023

The race organisation has confirmed that today's stage of the Tour de Suisse has been neutralised. The peloton will ride the final 30km of the route together in memory of Gino Mäder, as per the wishes of his family. “The peloton will ride the final 30km," said the Tour de Suisse organisation. "The race will be neutralised today and all the riders will form a cortege in memory of Gino Mäder as they ride to the finish line.”

Tour de Suisse race director Olivier Senn: “We’re all devasted – the organisers, the teams, the riders, everybody. What happened is really terrible and it’s difficult for me to speak because Gino was a wonderful person who didn’t deserve to leave this world in this way. Everybody knew him and everybody loved him. We won’t race today but we want to remember him and pay tribute to him by riding the finale of the stage. We’ll all ride together as a group to the finish line in memory of Gino.”

This is how we will always remember you❤️ With a big smile on your face! The peloton will ride the last 20 kilometres of today's course neutralised in honour of Gino Mäder. Expected finish in Oberwil-Lieli is 16.40h..We ride for you Gino❤️ pic.twitter.com/B27VmMqpuz June 16, 2023

The peloton is expected begin riding the neutralised final 20km of the stage at 16.00 CET, reaching the finish line in Oberwil-Lieli at 16.40

Gino Mäder was an undoubted talent on the bike, as his stage win at the 2021 Giro d’Italia and his fifth-place finish at that year’s Vuelta a España’s testified, but it was his immense human qualities that left the greatest impression on all who met him. His interviews, both in races and away from them, were testament to a range of interests that extended far beyond the bike, with a particular emphasis on environmental issues.

Professional cycling has a tendency to take itself very seriously – too seriously – at times, but Mäder’s freewheeling attitude always felt like an antidote to all that. A sense of fun pervaded his every act on a bike and his every utterance off it. His enthusiasm for cycling and, above all, for the people he met through the sport was obvious, and his death has sparked a sincere outpouring of grief from his peers and from all those who watched him race.

The Tour de Suisse peloton is currently pedalling gently towards the finish line in Oberwil-Lieli, united in remembrance of the late Gino Mäder. The riders, many of whom are donning black armbands, are taking it in turns to pedal at the head of the bunch. We imagine that Mäder's Bahrain Victorious teammates will lead the peloton across the finish line. 

As well as the poignant, rolling eulogy to Gino Mäder currently unfolding on the road to Oberwil-Lieli, many more tributes have been paid from the peloton and from across cycling to the late rider in the hours since his tragic death at the age of 26.  

Bahrain Victorious lead the peloton up a short climb, to hushed but heartfelt applause from the spectators gathered at the roadside. 

We ride for you Gino!❤️.#tds2023 #tourdesuisse #rip @BHRVictorious pic.twitter.com/fyt3eF1LCf June 16, 2023

The Bahrain Victorious riders and team cars have moved to the very head of the peloton as they enter the final kilometre of this tribute to Gino Mäder.

The only sound at the finish is of gentle applause as first the Bahrain Victorious riders and then the rest of the peloton cross the finish line. Some of the Bahrain riders raise a hand to acknowledge the outpouring of sympathy from the roadside. Pello Bilbao points to the sky in memory of his friend and teammate.  

We have, sadly, witnessed other rolling memorials like this over the years. Motorola led the peloton over the line in Pau at the 1995 Tour de France in memory of Fabio Casartelli. Leopard Trek and Tyler Farrar paid a similar tribute to Wouter Weylandt in Livorno on the 2011 Giro d’Italia. Lotto Soudal led the Tour de Pologne peloton to the finish in Kocierz following Bjorg Lambrecht’s death in 2019. On each of these sorrowful occasions, the solidarity of the peloton has been deeply affecting and beyond the description of mere words.

🇨🇭 #Tourdesuisse In honour of Gino! @tds #RideAsOne pic.twitter.com/3jX6WD4BFq June 16, 2023

In the saddest imaginable circumstances, yellow jersey Mattias Skjelmose put the peloton's day into words. "I’m sad. It was really weird to be on the bike today. It hit me really hard when I saw only six Bahrain riders going over the line together. That was something really pushing me to the limit emotionally," said Skjelmose. 

Like most at the Tour de Suisse, he hasn't had time to give any consideration to whether the race should proceed this weekend.

"For now, we only did 20k neutralised and I think that was right because Gino’s parents wanted it," he said. "I don’t know what’s happening in the next days. And I’m not sure how I really feel about it myself. Right now I just want to go home and sleep."

Gino Mäder’s mother Sandra followed today's memorial ride from a Bahrain Victorious team car, and she was consoled by many of the rider's colleagues and friends when they reached the finish line.  

Race director Olivier Senn has indicated that no decision has yet been taken over the continuation of the Tour de Suisse. "Today it's all about Gino," he said, according to Blick. "I spoke to his parents. They don't want us to be sad. We will conduct the discussions as to whether and how to proceed. But we won't push anything."

Olivier Senn has since spoken in a press conference at the finish. “It was a very intense last hour and really hard to take in the sitation," he said. "It was truly a beautiful celebration in memory of Gino, even though it was definitely the hardest day of my life and the hardest hour of my life. You never think of that when you run the race. It’s all adrenaline and full gas to the finish and now it was completely the opposite.

“I think it’s really important that we keep Gino in a positive memory. He was a happy rider and an open rider, an intelligent person who thought beyond cycling. This is what we should keep in memory. I certainly will and I hope the cycling world will as well.”

Senn confirmed that no decision has been taken over whether the race will continue. Discussion will take place in the next hours with the UCI, CPA and AIGCP, though a final decision might not arrive until tomorrow morning. 

"Regarding tomorrow and the next stages, we will start the discussions after this," Senn said. "It’s not a simple decision. There’s a lot of people involved who are very moved by the situation: riders, team members and our staff. Everybody knew him well. 

"We will have to discuss if it’s at all possible to organise a race, and if our staff is up for it. We will certainly not push it through just because we want to or have to. We will do it if everyone wants it, if everyone is fit and if the mindset is the right one to produce a safe race tomorrow and the day after. 

"We will also discuss with the UCI, the AIGCP and the UCI on what we’re going to do. It will be an open discussion. We will take a common decision. It’s not just our decision but a decision of all the parties. Those discussions will take place in the next hours and maybe the decision will only be tomorrow morning. We don’t know yet."

Alasdair Fotheringham has written this obituary for the late Gino Mäder . He was a rider and a man apart. "The results were only ever a small part of the story," Alasdair writes. "As Friday's outpouring of grief and sadness has shown, it is Gino Mäder the person, the rider who always looked beyond himself and to the world beyond cycling, who will be missed the most." 

A full account of the Tour de Suisse peloton's tribute to Gino Mäder is available here .

Stefan Küng paid this tribute to Gino Mäder in an interview with L’Équipe TV. The Swiss rider was among the first to seek out Heidi Mäder and offer his condolences at the finish line. “I knew him well, given that he was a Swiss pro rider and there aren’t so many of us,” Küng said. “I don’t really have any words, my thoughts are just with his family and his loved ones. Gino was just a marvellous guy, he was very courteous and very empathetic. He often thought of others and he know he was privileged to be able to do this sport. He was just a very good person.”

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