Road Cycling: Performance

A circular route through the green hills of the Appenzell region, on the sunny balcony above the Bodensee with typical farmhouses and strong-willed, likeable local people. Far from daily hustle and bustle but never far from a tavern.

The ride between Thusis and Juf-Avers is like a demanding journey through time. After the busy traffic around Viamala Gorge, a long, steep ascent takes you to Juf-Avers, the highest (alt. 2126 m) settlement in Switzerland to be inhabited all year round.

This loop starts in Aigle and goes in search of the classic passes of the Vaud Alps. The little town of Aigle in Switzerland’s Chablais region is home to the UCI, the International Cycling Union.

This loop featuring three major mountain passes starts in Meiringen, the village made famous by the Reichenbach Falls, where Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s fictional hero Sherlock Holmes dies – or does he?

The scenic Appenzell route leads from Heiden through the hilly Appenzell landscapes to the Gallus town of St. Gallen – passing known and lesser known points of interest on the way.

This moderately challenging loop starts at Saanen, a typical Bernese Oberland village, which is easy to get to by train.

The dead-end route that leads from Grindelwald to the Männlichen at alt. 2229 m is exhausting, narrow and utterly relentless. Yet awaiting the hardy rider are awe-inspiring views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.

The Sanetsch is the finest pass you have never heard of! At 26km in length and with a difference in altitude of 1690m, the pass road starts in Sion and could be compared to the famous Stelvio, but with less traffic.

With three legendary passes that regularly feature in the Tour de Suisse, this loop ranks among the great alpine classics. Although just 106km in length, it should not be underestimated: with almost 40km of climbing, it presents a major challenge.

The Emmental is a region in Canton Bern, home to the famous eponymous cheese with the large holes. Life is a tranquil affair among these hills, which give every appearance of belonging to a different era. By way of discovering them, this short loop chooses roads with little traffic.

As a mountain range, the Swiss Jura tends to play second fiddle to the Alps in terms of cycling appeal. Yet this region between Geneva and Basel is a cyclists’ paradise: numerous relatively quiet roads follow the gentle topography amid pristine landscapes.

Featuring almost 50 kilometres of climbing, this loop calls for fitness and a love of adventure.

An amazing tour with a little known 18-km ascent and an unpaved section.

The ascent from Le Châble to the Mauvoisin Dam is rough, twisty and steep – and with no distant views for quite a way. You don’t catch sight of Switzerland’s second-highest dam until right towards the end.

The Jungfrau is not necessarily known as a road cycling destination, but it does offer one of Europe’s finest passes: the Grosse Scheidegg (alt. 1962m).

You can discover the source of the Rhine twice within a radius of 270 kilometres. In between you can explore two Alpine passes, deep gorges and the frontiers of three linguistic regions.

This 57km loop includes two passes and starts in Martigny, a town with a Roman past located in the French-speaking part of Canton Valais where the Rhone makes a right-angle.

This moderately challenging loop takes you to the Wildhaus ski resort along a minor, little-known road and skirts magnificent Lake Walen.

740 km, 18,500m of up and down, 25 climbs spread over 10 stages: we present the Valais Cycling Tour. Come and discover the many sides of Valais with this new 7-14 day tour!

The high points of this outing for well-prepared cyclists are the panoramic view at the top of the Chasseral and the back roads of the Bernese Jura.

This loop follows the route of the Säntis Classic, an annual challenge that attracts almost 2000 cyclists.

Challenging cycle rides are not the sole reserve of the Alps. Between the Mittelland region of the country and the Jura, this loop has surprises in store for even the fittest riders.

The 14 kilometres from Innertkirchen to Engstlenalp are varied and convoluted in terms of scenery: you ride through dense woodland and the Gental, one of Central Switzerland’s remotest valleys. After a gentle finale, the view at the top (alt. 1835 m) reaches as far as the Titlis.

This escapade starting in Villars-Gryon is made up largely of back roads with moderate traffic. It features a breathtaking vantage point with views of Lake Geneva and the Alps.

This loop through the scenic beauty of the Entlebuch region takes you over two relatively unknown passes in the Prealps, the Glaubenberg and the Glaubenbielen.

The route from Bignasco (pop: 300) to the source of the Maggia is exhausting; the views, however, are spectacular. The road leads through a dense forest of evergreens and past Lake Sambuco until it reaches Lake Narèt at alt. 2310 m.

Two things distinguish the Umbrail pass: at alt. 2501m, it boasts Switzerland’s highest metalled road. It is also the third route to the famous Stelvio pass, high point of the Giro d’Italia, which every cyclist dreams of tackling at least once in their life.

It takes a climb of almost 1200m to reach Alpe di Neggia, a hidden gem in Canton Ticino, Switzerland’s Italian-speaking canton. The view from the summit is worth the effort!

The Gantrisch landscape reserve provides the delightful context for this loop featuring the Gurnigel, a pass popular with local cyclists.

From Davos, Europe’s highest town, the loop covers a distance of 117km and 2780m of climbing. The Albula, the ascent to which starts 30km further on, is arguably Switzerland’s prettiest pass.

The pro route - featured in Le Tour de France 2016.

This getaway full of surprises and beginning in Basel follows empty back roads in Canton Basel-Landschaft (known familiarly as the Baselbiet).