Stage 2
Locarno → Locarno
Stage 2 is a 158km hilly circuit in Locarno (Ticino, Italian-speaking Switzerland) on the shores of Lake Maggiore. Multiple Cat-3 climbs around the lake produce a selective opening day; classics-and-puncheur riders contest the line. The Ticino terrain feels Italian even though the race is officially Swiss.
Watch this stage
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What the stage looks like
Stage 2 is a 158km hilly circuit in Locarno (Ticino, Italian-speaking Switzerland) on the shores of Lake Maggiore. Multiple Cat-3 climbs around the lake produce a selective opening day; classics-and-puncheur riders contest the line. The Ticino terrain feels Italian even though the race is officially Swiss.
What to follow
- Lake Maggiore terrain: Ticino's subtropical lake-region climbs are Lombardia-style.
- Closing-circuit format: repeated lake-shore climbs grind down legs over the 158km.
- Italian-speaking Switzerland: the Ticino canton is culturally Italian — race feels like an Italian race.
When to tune in
Watch the closing climbs above Locarno — puncheur attacks 15-20km from the line typical winning move.