Content reserved for subscribers
Richard Chassot took stock of the 77th edition, before outlining next year’s route. The director wants a stage to commemorate Jean Tinguely.
Richard Chassot would like to pay tribute to the Friborg artist Jean Tinguely, who would have celebrated his 100th birthday in 2025, by dedicating a stage between Basel and Friborg to him. © Keystone
Published on 04/29/2024
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
He appeared delighted, in front of the media, when taking stock of the 77e edition of the Tour de Romandie. Richard Chassot doesn’t really care about bad weather conditions anymore, anyway. This is the usual lot of the French loop, which the Fribourgeois has managed since 2007. The 2024 vintage? She satisfies him. Interview.
What is your feeling as you complete a new edition of “your” Tour de Romandie?
Richard Chassot: The organization worked very well, despite the weather conditions being unfavorable for holding outdoor events. But we were lucky to be able to maintain the stages in their entirety. In addition, the two best days of the week in terms of weather were during the mountain stages, so ideal. From a sporting point of view, the edition was beautiful, with the crowning of Carlos Rodriguez, a champion with a very bright future.
Did the proposed route meet expectations?
I’ve only had good feedback, at least. As for this last stage, we were keen to come to the Geneva countryside, which we rarely visit, unlike the city. We wanted to make it a race similar to an early season classic. With the suspense and the running moves, I feel like it was.
Is there any concern about the relatively disappointing Swiss results?
To win the Tour de Romandie, you have to assert yourself as a great talent and make this race a priority. I think we still had a nice overview of Swiss cycling, with several riders who finished not far from the best. It should also be noted that the field was very tough. I had never witnessed a mountain stage as fast as that of Saturday.
What will the 2025 edition look like?
The program is almost final. We will start with a prologue in Saint-Imier. There will be two stages in a loop, one around Grande Béroche, in the canton of Neuchâtel, the other in Vaud, around Cossonay. The mountain stage will finish at Thyon 2000, with a start on the shores of Lake Geneva. We have already visited the Valais resort in 2022 and 2023: it is an ideal destination, which promises a great stage, with the objective of taking the runners to more than 2000 m altitude. There will also be a final time trial in Geneva on Sunday.
And a stage that could connect Basel to Friborg on Wednesday?
Yes, that is my wish. Generally, it is the cities that express their interest to us, there, it was me who wanted to approach them to create this stage, through which I would like to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Jean Tinguely, who had in particular artistic object the wheel. The Friborg organizers have confirmed their interest to me, I am waiting for a response from Basel, which houses the museum dedicated to Tinguely. It would be really nice to combine Swiss-German and French-speaking cultures.
Is this plan, which still offers two times, a prologue and a time trial over six days, still the best?
I thought a lot about whether or not to keep the prologue. In fact, it is above all a wish of stopover towns, who request it for its spectacular side. But its organizational implementation remains immense, the blocking is heavy and the prologue lasts too long for the public to remain on the sidelines for the entire event. So yes, it’s a question. In St-Imier, I would like a more demanding prologue than that of Payerne and for the rest, I want a change.
That’s to say?
I would like to set up a first stage online, but with a shorter, more dynamic formula, a sort of sprint, as is done in certain motor sports, in Formula 1 for example. I would like to introduce this, if possible, in place of the prologue for the 2027 edition.
What about the time trial?
I would like to find a distance and a profile which does not guarantee the winner of the time trial to win the general. Over the last three years, it has been riders who are more of a climber type who have distinguished themselves in the demanding time trials that we offered. In Geneva, in 2025, it will be more dynamic, shorter, with less difference in altitude. Afterwards, there is no point in reinventing the wheel. The Tour de Romandie must maintain this time trial exercise, because it is also a desire of the riders to test themselves in competition, before lining up for the grand Tours.
