Grenchen, Switzerland / Cyclists and fitness enthusiasts are invited to explore the beauty of one of the ‘Top 5’ stage road races in the world on ROUVY, the Official Digital Partner of Tour de Suisse. Mapped on the segments of the same courses as the actual, upcoming tour of 2022, the open Tour de Suisse Challenge sets the preparation for June 12th - 19th virtual and real races. The digital Challenge gives the unique opportunity to ride the real courses from home, before the Pros do it, and a chance to win a VIP experience, to watch the World Tour stars on-site at a hand-touch distance.
Cycling Unlimited is always setting the trends in the world-class race experience. The team behind the Tour of Switzerland invites anyone to ride the entire original route of the Tour de Suisse from 12-19 June 2022, on the same days as the professionals, in real. This is the concept of the newly designed Tour de Suisse Challenge. Those who don’t dare to ride all eight stages can choose to ride the first or the last four days. Depending on the route, everyone can choose their preferred terrain. It should be an exclusive experience that participants will not forget in a hurry. Starting places are therefore limited.
The overall winner of the Tour de Suisse last year was the Ecuadorian, Richard Carapaz, from the Ineos Grenadiers Team. In second and third place were Colombian, Rigoberto Uran (EF Education-Nippo) and Danish Jakob Fuglsang (Astana-Premier Tech), respectively. "Getting near such aces is not easy, but with ROUVY trying, the route definitely is. ROUVY makes the authentic Tour de Suisse experience available globally online to any trainer owner anytime, anywhere in the world. ROUVY’s augmented reality teleports the real training environment and the spirit of elite competition directly to the comfort of your home, now for the 3rd year in a row," says Petr Samek, CEO of ROUVY.
The immersive augmented environment allows registrants to get ready for the ‘in-real-life’ Challenge. Between May 18 and June 6th, it also enables those who can’t visit and compete in the actual race to travel around beautiful and magnificent Switzerland virtually - with a 1 to 1 realistic feel - to compete instead for the virtual crown, but with real efforts. From dusk to dawn, and from plain valleys to snowy panoramic mountains, Switzerland is an inspiring gem for both virtual and real journeys. After trying it, everyone will be keen to visit the actual event. Dare to dream - to go one day in person and it will happen!
Mario Klaus, Head Brand Management of Cycling Unlimited AG adds: “We are proud to give the ROUVY community the opportunity to ride on the original routes of the Tour de Suisse and are happy to present you the beauty of Switzerland as a cycling country.”
The Challenge Courses on ROUVY
Tour de Suisse 2022 | Stage 1 | Küsnacht
Tour de Suisse 2022 | Stage 2 | Aesch
Tour de Suisse 2022 | Stage 4 | Brunnen
Tour de Suisse 2022 | Stage 7 | Malbun
Prizes
The digital Challenge finishers will be awarded with really unique and cool prizes. Connecting the indoor and outdoor spaces, ROUVY and Cycling Unlimited provide the VIP experience packages which include the following:
1 x VIP Car for the 5th stage for 2 people
1 x VIP Car for the 8th stage for 2 people
2 x VIP Tickets, start Stage 3
2 x VIP Tickets, finish Stage 7
Winners will be chosen in a draw from among those who completed the digital Challenge on ROUVY. The winners will have a 1-week period to plan and ensure their trip to Switzerland.
Registration and rules
Registration for the Challenge is OPEN HERE.
The virtual Challenge starts today and finishes on June 6th. The courses should be competed in the ‘race’ or ‘time-trial ’ mode.
When the virtual Challenge is over, it will be followed up by the ‘22 TdS virtual race series on ROUVY (details to be announced additionally).
Cycling connects people, nations and individuals.
In these difficult times, such a bond is more important than ever. The Cycling Unlimited team is shocked by the war and the suffering in Ukraine. There is a reality now that was never thought possible. The Tour de Suisse Challenge shows solidarity with the Ukrainian people and calls on all parties to end the war immediately. The Tour de Suisse Challenge logo in the Ukrainian national colors will be a sign of this solidarity! It is very important to us that words are followed by deeds. That is why CU is currently organizing a delivery of clothes to the border areas around Ukraine with a humanitarian organization. The team behind TdS would like to support the fleeing population with all the remaining stock of our staff clothing, which offers protection from wind and weather. Every contribution, no matter how small, can make a big difference! #standwithUkraine
//The press visuals are here.
Press Contact: Ueli Anken, Media Office TdS, +41 79 638 18 18, media@tds.ch
About 2022 Tour de Suisse Challenge
The NEW Tour de Suisse Challenge offers the incomparable experience of feeling like a professional cyclist and being closer to the racing atmosphere than at any other event. Participants experience the full range of emotions in cycling and everyone who crosses the finish line of the final stage after the efforts of The NEW Tour de Suisse Challenge will not forget the experience in a hurry.
The Tour de Suisse (in Eng: Tour of Switzerland) is an annual cycling stage race in Switzerland. Raced over nine days, the event covers two weekends in the latter half of June. Since 2011, the event has been part of the UCI World Tour, making it the 4th biggest and toughest professional road cycling race globally, only after the 3 Grand Tours. www.challenge.tourdesuisse.ch
About Cycling Unlimited AG
Joining the forces from the Swiss cycling world, Infront Sports & Media AG, Swiss Cycling, TORTOUR GmbH and ProTouchGlobal GmbH are the owners of Cycling Unlimited AG, an umbrella platform for biking enthusiasts. The partners bundle their extensive expertise in order to advance all levels of the sport. Well-known national cycling events for professionals and amateurs, including the Tour de Suisse, the Tour de Suisse Challenge, the TORTOUR Ultracycling and the TORTOUR Gravel as well as the Swiss Cycling Alpenbrevet belong to their portfolio. The primary objective of Cycling Unlimited AG is to establish a complete community and communication platform for everyone who has made cycling a part of their life. www.cycling-unlimited.ch
About ROUVY
ROUVY is a digital platform that brings the experience of real-life cycling competitions to your home. Headquartered in the Czech Republic, ROUVY offers thousands of exciting virtual roads to join the pro peloton online or to compete with friends. Overlaying animated avatars and objects over the geo-synced real-life video footage, ROUVY makes home training both realistic and fun. Cycling enthusiasts and the most demanding athletes are welcome to cycle the world from their own homes, to stay fit or to get ready for the next race! ROUVY is a digital official (and proud!) partner of the Tour de Suisse from 2020.
www.rouvy.com