Sports director Sierk Jan de Haan: “We want to give colour to the race and want to try to win a stage. The harder stages are suited for the climbers, but there will also be possibilities for sprinters. Besides that, it’s also possible for the breakaway to stay away a couple of times.”

The Tour de Suisse starts with a short time trial of 9.2 kilometre over undulating terrain. The second stage includes a tough circuit and seems to be suited for the GC riders. After that, three stages with a possibility for a sprint follow. During the last four stages - excluding the time trial on the penultimate day - the peloton rides through the mountains.

For Timo Roosen, it’s his first race after he broke his collarbone in Tour of California.