Uster > Zürich 154km The big question most people are currently considering is just how hard is this route going to be? Comparing races based on distance and elevation gain isn’t an exact science, but it does offer some insight into what type of race could unfold. Here’s some comparisons: Flanders – 163km & 1573m Amstel Gold – 157km & 1887m Flèche – 146km & 2092m Liège – 153km & 2829m Olympics – 157km & 1757m This race – 154km & 2384m It’s quite a long race and has a significant amount of climbing, but considerably less than Liège. Of the big contenders, Kopecky has never...

Mersch > Luxembourg 177km The final stage of the race is almost the exact same as last year, and if you remember that, you’ll be looking forward to this day. The race ends with a lap circuit, one that contains two climbs, a long one and a short/punchy one. Given the current GC position, it’s still all to play for. Van der Poel has a 3s gap over Ayuso and Vansevenant, with Hirschi a further 5s down, what a great stage this is going to be.

Zürich > Zürich 29.9km ITT The women’s ITT is 16km shorter than the men’s, but still takes place on the same roads. The same climb appears in both, but it’s going to be far more important in this race as it takes up a larger percentage of the duration of the race. 

Zürich > Zürich 46.1km ITT It’s time for the world championships, first up is the individual time trial. We’re in Switzerland, what the locals would give for a Stefan Küng win. The route is 46km long, which is a serious distance, and is relatively flat, the climbing section isn’t the hardest in the world (2.9km at 4.7%). Can Remco retain his title?

Brakel > Haacht 197km This is the 14th edition of the SUPER 8, which was previously known as the Primus Classic. The organisers have mainly stuck with the same route that’s been used in the last three editions, but there’s a couple of minor changes. The race is still centred on two laps of a circuit that contains the Moskesstraat, Holstheide and Smeysberg, this is where we’ll see if a strong group can force off the front of the bunch and disappoint the sprinters. 

Differdange > Differdange 15.5km ITT Time trial day in Luxembourg. After a brilliant win today, Mauri Vansevenant leads Van der Poel by 34s, Hirschi is at 49s and then there’s Tiberi, Kelderman and Ayuso at 54s. As Vansevenant isn’t great in this discipline, it’s still all to play for.

Rosport > Diekirch 202km Welcome to the Queen stage and what a belter it is. The final 32km is about as difficult as it could be, the bunch go up a wall and descend, up another wall and descend, up another wall and descend, I’m getting bored, they do this 7 times! Van der Poel is in the race lead, but he’s only got two teammates to support him, that means it’s going to be chaotic. 

Junglinster > Schifflange 155km Van der Poel is in the race lead after a good win today, he’ll hope to keep it till the end of the race but doesn’t have many teammates due to illness in the group. On paper, this is the easiest stage in the race, it should be one for the sprinters.

Luxembourg > Luxembourg 158km The opening stage of the race starts and finishes in Luxembourg city, but the finish isn’t the same as last year. It’s a tough day, there will already be gaps in the GC, and it should be a great fight between sprinters and puncheurs. 

Blegny > Namur 204km It’s the 64th edition of this fine race, and the organisers have stuck with the usual route, ending with the climb up to the Citadelle in Namur. It usually ends in a sprint, but a late attack has also been successful here in the past, which adds to the excitement.