Interlaken Grand Prix   

The Interlaken Grand Prix is one of four one day races in the area famous for its vistas and passionate love for cycling. However, this race is not dominated by the climbs situated immediately around the settlement.

Despite this the early racing is slow and cautious, for despite the absence of sprinters teams and the gathering of a breakaway in front, the favourites know that to win the stage they will have to save t...

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The Interlaken Grand Prix is one of four one day races in the area famous for its vistas and passionate love for cycling. However, this race is not dominated by the climbs situated immediately around the settlement.

Despite this the early racing is slow and cautious, for despite the absence of sprinters teams and the gathering of a breakaway in front, the favourites know that to win the stage they will have to save their legs for the final climbs of the day. They circumnavigate the picturesque lake, Brienzsee and the small and short hills that separate village from village on the lake edge will pose no problem to any cyclist. The pace will begin to increase with the approach of Meiringen and the sharp climbs that may split the breakaway that follow soon after the village. Once these have passed the valley sides close in and the breakaway can be seen from the cars that line the road behind them. Slowly the gradient begins to increase. At this point the peloton know that they have reached the Grimsel Pass, the first of the days two big climbs. Team mates will be shed but the favourites are hesitant to attack. A few flamboyant riders may for a second group on the road and look to build an advantage for the final climb. The road becomes narrow and the landscape rocky.The riders will count down the thirteen switchbacks which take them to 2,165 meters and the summit. The main field will be slimmed down by the time they start their charge into the valley below, but the descent is narrow and contains hairpin bends that have seen riders fall and break bones in the previous editions of this race. At the bottom of the descent there is no time for a chase back to the leading group as they immediately hit the much steeper and tougher Nufenen pass. Unlike the Grimsel pass there is no introduction. The kick bites hard and the main contenders will immediately start to split.

There are fourteen hairpin bends and the winner will be able to see his rivals all the way up, for the land is barren up at 2,478 meters and the finishing line is in sight within the final six kilometers. But these final kilometers are the toughest with gradients of 10% and hairpin bends right up until the last sweeping corner home to the finish line.

The finish is much lower though than the peaks around it, but the plains of Milan in the distance are visible and every rider knows that when they cross the finishing line they have ridden from the north side of the alps to the south from the pain in their legs.