We’re taking a climbing-orientated roster to Switzerland for the penultimate Women’s WorldTour European stage race of the season, the Tour de Romandie Féminin from September 6 through 8.
It may only be three days but this race doesn’t pull any punches. Opening with rolling hills before a mountain top finish on stage 2 and then finishing with another hilly brute of a day, it tests all the characteristics that go into a good climber.
The 2024 edition is particularly important as it is the final big test before the European Championships in Limburg and then the World Championships in Zürich.
We’re responding to the task by bringing our mountain goats. Climber Barbara Malcotti leads the line and with Henrietta Christie and Tour Down Under QOM Katia Ragusa providing crucial firepower on the hills. Giada Borghesi also returns to racing after recovering from an injury sustained at the Giro d’Italia with Swiss U23 champion Linda Zanetti completing the squad in this, her home race.
How to watch
USA
Max with via the B/R Sports Add-On from 8:00 am ET / 7:00 am CT / 6:00 am MT / 5:00 am PT
Canada
FloBikes
Greater Europe and UK
Discovery+ from 14:00 CET / 13:00 BST
Belgium + the Netherlands
Max with via the B/R Sports Add-On from 14:00 CET
Mountain madness
Human Powered Health returns to the Tour de Romandie Féminin having first raced it in 2023. With a total of 5,130 meters of climbing, Barbara Malcotti knows that she’s in for a battle.
“I’m really excited about this race,” Malcotti said of the parcours. “I will really try for a result. “The second stage climb will decide the GC but the last stage can also change the overall because it’s gonna be a really hilly stage and so some riders could explode.”
Also racing in this, her second time at Romandie is Linda Zanetti who welcomes the squad to her home country.
“I‘m really happy to race on home soil and see many familiar faces on the roadside,” says the under-23 national champion. “I‘m happy I can show my teammates one of the best places and roads to ride a bike. We are really motivated for this race, so it will be a good one.”
Tour de Romandie Féminin stage-by-stage
9/6 Stage 1 | La Grande Béroche – Lausanne (133.8km) Rolling
Romandie opens with a stage that packs in 1,763 meters of climbing and an uphill ramp finish into Lausanne. The finish isn’t one for pure climbers but rather sprinter-puncheur types who can either launch an attack from distance or hang around for a bunch kick.
9/10 Stage 2 | Chippis – Vercorin (101.9km) Mountain top finish
Just like in previous editions, the race puts its mountain-top finish on stage 2. After a flat run-in to the base, the peloton will take on the 9.6km at 8% climb to Vercorin. If it‘s all together, expect the pace to be ramped up quickly and for early strikeouts for the leader’s jersey.
9/11 Stage 3 | Morges – Morges (144.2km) Hilly
Romandie saves its longest stage for stage 3 and a showdown around Morges. With 1,878 meters of vertical gain, it’s also the day with the most climbing. The steep doubleheader of the Féchy and Signal de Bougy climbs inside the final 40km may act as the launchpad for overall victory.
Follow comprehensive coverage of Human Powered Heath’s fortunes throughout the week via the team’s Instagram, Facebook, and X accounts.
