Warm-up: Western Switzerland (June-July 2023)
Route : Sierre - Lausanne - Geneva - Col du Marchairuz - Neuchâtel - Fribourg - Interlaken - Thun - Berne
Accommodation : at home (I live in Western Switzerland)
Collectibles : Fully, Lavaux, Le Port de Morges, Lac Léman (Coppet), Geneva, Creux du Van, Fribourg, Gruyères, Château-d'Oex, Gstaad Saanenland, Spiez, St-Beatushöhlen, Niederhorn, Schloss Hünegg.
I did this warmup from home on June weekends. If you want to do it in one piece on the Grand Tour, plan on at least 4 days. If you have time for an extra day: there is a beautiful small valley between the Beatenberg and Sigriswil called Justistal. After the Niederhorn I did not go back to the road along the Lake of Thun but continued the (very) small road at the valley station of the Niederhorn cable car. For this road, a fee of CHF 5 must be paid at the machine. The road is narrow and very rarely used but paved throughout. It can be ridden with a naked bike without any problems. Through tunnels and breathtaking view curves you reach the Justistal, which we have already seen from the Niederhorn. This excursion is not part of the Grand Tour. However, since I have known the valley since my earliest childhood, I have included it in my program.
The small (but comfortable) toll route in the Justistal.