Team Vorarlberg will be without its leader, Colin Stüssi, at the Tour of Austria—but the team is heading to Graz with confidence and a strong roster!
Team Vorarlberg unveils a strong roster for the 75th Tour of Austria—but without team captain Colin Stüssi!
Team Vorarlberg, currently Austria’s strongest professional cycling team, is eagerly looking forward to the upcoming 75th Tour of Austria UCI 2.1, which starts on Wednesday, July 8, in Graz. The sports management has selected six professionals who, with a broad range of skills, can perform successfully on each of the five stages. How will they ultimately fare? The final tally will be determined after the last stage in Vienna on July 12. The goal is clear: an aggressive, offensive, and strategic riding style to hold their own in an incredibly strong field of competitors.
Tough Competition: A Fight at the Highest Level
This year’s Tour of Austria promises to be a spectacular event. The 132-rider field is packed with top stars from no fewer than six World Tour teams: UAE Team Emirates – XRG, EF Education EasyPost, Team Jayco-AIUIa, Alpecin-Premier Tech, Netcompany INEOS, and Lidl-Trek. They will all be fielding top riders at the start in Graz this coming Wednesday. This lineup of 22 teams is rounded out by the world’s best Continental teams, as well as the Austrian national team.
The Team Vorarlberg Roster
After coming down with a viral illness a few days ago, team leader Colin Stüssi (SUI) has now had to withdraw for good just three days before the start of the Tour. Every effort was made to get him back in shape in time. Unfortunately, these efforts were unsuccessful, which is a bitter loss for the team. Tobias Nolde, winner of the Kirschblütenrennen in Wels, was nominated to replace Stüssi. The following riders will be on the starting line for Team Vorarlberg: Philipp Hofbauer, Kilian Feurstein, Emanuel Zangerle (all three from Austria), Dominik Röber and Tobias Nolde (both from Germany), and Giacomo Ballabio (Italy).
Information about Team Vorarlberg: https://www.procyclingstats.com/team/team-vorarlberg-2026
Provisional start list: https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/tour-of-austria/2026/startlist
The stages in detail: Through vineyards, the High Alps, and the Sprint Royal
The five-day tour through Austria features varied and challenging stages. This coming Wednesday, the first stage will start in Graz and head to Gamlitz, a route that winds through the vineyards of the Styrian Wine Route and is peppered with brutally tough and steep climbs. Riders will need to stay alert and focused here, as these sections pose more risks than opportunities. The following day brings a true queen stage with a mountain finish at the legendary Großglockner. It’s designed for the climbers and general classification contenders in the field. Friday’s stage from Lienz to St. Johann Alpendorf could be a day for breakaways, before another tough stage starting and finishing in Steyr awaits the riders on Saturday. Sunday’s grand finish in the capital city of Vienna promises an exciting finale, in which Team Vorarlberg has two strong contenders in Giacomo Ballabio and youngster Kilian Feurstein.
Tour information: https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/tour-of-austria/2026/statistics
Manager Thomas Kofler: “We’re ready and optimistic”
“We’re really looking forward to the stage race and hope to have further honed our form from the past few weeks at the high-altitude training camp in East Tyrol. Then a lot is possible, though we’re well aware that 36 World Tour riders will be at the start. They won’t be giving anything away for free. Especially given that we unfortunately had to leave out Colin, our strongest rider. But as is typical of Team Vorarlberg, the guys will be motivated to give it their all, and we’re optimistic that we’ll be able to capitalize on our opportunities.”
Sports Director Paul Renger: “It’s going to be a close match”
Sports Director Paul Renger adds to this outlook for the team: “The Tour of Austria is a special highlight for us. The guys are ready and have worked hard. Colin, in particular, has put in an incredible amount of effort, but unfortunately he won’t be at the start in the best shape of his life. Of course, that hurts twice as much. But it also opens up new possibilities. The riders know it’s going to be a tough race, but their excitement about making a difference outweighs the challenge. We’re ready to take it on!”
Statement by Philipp Hofbauer: “We’re heading into the race with a well-rounded team. And I’m confident that, thanks to our team spirit, we’ll be able to achieve respectable results in every stage as well as in the overall standings!”
Statement by Kilian Feurstein: “I’m looking forward to the second Tour of Austria. I’m in top shape and hope we can carry over the momentum from the last few weeks. I’m especially looking forward to the final stage on Sunday to Vienna!”
Press Service Team Vorarlberg
www.team-vorarlberg.at
office@proevent-cycling.at
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Roster: Kilian Feurstein, Tobias Nolde, Giacomo Ballabio, Philipp Hofbauer, Dominik Röber, Emanuel Zangerle
