Tour de Romandie (SUI) - 29.04-04.05.2008

The Tour de Romandie only lasts six days, but the rolling hills of the French-speaking region of Switzerland tests the all round ability of the final winner.

The racing always includes two flat or rolling stages for the sprinters, a time trial and a tough mountain finish in the breathtaking Alps. The weather in Switzerland in late April and early May can be cold, but this makes the race even more spectacular and shows off the beauty of the Swiss countryside.

Starting in Fribourg and finishing with a time trial in the Olympic city of Lausanne, the 2008 Tour de Romandie returns to Geneva for a testing 1.9km prologue time trial around the city centre.

Two rolling stages to Saignelégier and Fribourg follow before the important 18.8km time trial around Sion. The selective mountain finish to Zinal comes on the Saturday, before a final road race stage to Lausanne on Sunday May 4.

Thomas Dekker snatched victory in 2007 by winning the time trial, but this year’s final road stage should produce a closer finish, with other favourites such as 2007 UCI ProTour winner Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) expected to again be a contender.