The heavy snowfall at the top of Simplonpass (2,005 m) predicted from Tuesday afternoon, forced the Tour de Romandie organizers to significantly shorten its first stage from planned 200.9 to only 88.5 kilometers, with only one second category climb remaining on today’s route.

The change means that a start of the first stage, originally from Ascona to Sion, will be moved to the feed zone at Bridgerbad at the 112.4 kilometers mark, and so riders will be deprived from an opportunity to tackle the demanding Simplonpass with only second category climb to Lens remaining on the route.

The final decision made by race organizers to implement the “plan B” and shorten the stage was forced by “the jury consisting of the UCI officials and the latest information from meteorological expects, forecasting snowfall from Tuesday afternoon to Wednesday night on Simplonpass.”

According to race organizers, two trains will be chartered to transfer riders and race officials through the Simplonpass tunnel to the moved stage start.