Valais Valais   

The Swiss Canton of Valais has many beautiful mountain passes and a fanatical cycling population. What could be a better way to show off the area with a spectacular road race, with exciting climbs and stunning scenery, also giving the locals the chance to see their heroes in action.

The one day race begins in the ancient capital of Valais, Sion. The backdrop could not be better with snow capped peaks in the background...

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The Swiss Canton of Valais has many beautiful mountain passes and a fanatical cycling population. What could be a better way to show off the area with a spectacular road race, with exciting climbs and stunning scenery, also giving the locals the chance to see their heroes in action.

The one day race begins in the ancient capital of Valais, Sion. The backdrop could not be better with snow capped peaks in the background and two outcrops of rocks standing behind them, on top of which are situated the ancient castles protecting Sion. The riders will roll out of Sion slowly but they will immediately tackle their first climb of the day. They will climb some 1,000 meters up to Nendaz on a steep but short climb with switchbacks all the way up until they reach the very highest reaches of the village. The descent that takes the riders to their next climb of the day is relatively easy but does not take them all the way down. Instead they take a left turn and start heading back up many more hairpin bends. This time the ascent takes them to the farmhouse of ‘Les Etablons De Riddes’ at 1,750 meters. The descent off of that climb is far tougher, with a very narrow path and many hairpin bends in very quick succession. The riders will then enter Arbarey, another famous ski resort where once again they will begin to climb the familiar hairpin bends up to the 1,623m high Col Du Lein. The descent off of this ancient pass is even tricker, with a greater number of switchbacks and no safety barrier in case of a fall. Once they reach the valley below the riders will be fractured into many different groups having already summitted three climbs and the gaps will only increase as the riders climb above Verbier to the small ski station of Les Ruinettes. Here, the initial breakaway may be caught as attacks by the favourites begin. The descent is initially difficult but after they pass through Verbier, it becomes far easier.

After the descent has finished, the riders will head towards Orsieres and the beginning of the climb up to their finishing point. The breakaway will almost certainly be caught by this point and the leading group will be the group to fight for the win. The real attacks will start beside the Lac des Toules where the gradient begins to increase, although riders having a good day may attack from further out in order to get a head start before the final kick up to the finish.
Although it is a very long climb, the race will usually finish in a sprint between the best climbers although with two kilometers to go, two hairpin bends make for the perfect launch pad for the slower sprinter to attack. The winner though, just like the St Bernard dog, will have to have determination and skill to find the win. Calmness is an important trait and any rider that attacks too early will burn out before the end.