Felix Gall: On the hunt for overall victory at the Tour de Suisse!

Felix Gall: On the hunt for overall victory at the Tour de Suisse!

Felix Gall, the talented Austrian cyclist, starts this year's race on Sunday Tour de Suisse. His goal is to be at the top of the overall standings and compete with the best - but without the great pressure that weighed on him last season. The Tour de Suisse also represents an important dress rehearsal for the Tour de France which begins on July 5th.

Gall decided not to take part in the Dauphine this year and is now focusing entirely on Switzerland. The professional cyclist is one of the favorites and prepared optimally in advance. This included, among other things, a three-week altitude training campLes Arcs, where he and his Decathlon team specifically studied the climbs that he can expect in the Tour de France.

Preparations and expectations

Gall goes into the Tour de Suisse with a positive feeling based on his current form. This season he already finished fifth overall Tour of the Alps and was able to achieve several top 3 results. Gall says he feels better this year than last year, when he failed to meet his own high expectations. “I have learned to manage the pressure better,” he emphasizes.

Last year, Gall was captain of his team at the Tour de France, a role that he has now come to terms with well. He now feels calmer and more relaxed, which should help him cope better with the mental stress. This year he goes into the tour with clear goals: a top ten placement, the mountain jersey or maybe even a stage win.

The Tour de Suisse and its challenges

Gall also talks about the importance of staying healthy and crash-free during the first ten days of the Tour de France. He has learned from a painful high-speed crash on the Tour of the UAE, which, although not seriously injured, still left him with small scars on his back. “I appreciate the atmosphere and the route profile of the Tour de Suisse and have the ambition to be at the front,” said Gall enthusiastically.

Finally, it remains to be seen how Felix Gall will fare in the Tour de Suisse, which has always delivered interesting results in cycling history. In recent years, riders such as Mattias Skjelmose (2023) and Adam Yates (2024) have won in this prestigious event. Gall is ambitious and determined to deliver a strong performance and gain confidence for the upcoming Tour de France.

The coming days will show whether his intensive preparation and newfound mental strength will pay off.