Seven Stages. One Dream. To Wear Red.
SISU Racing is proud to officially announce the dates and route selection for the 2026 SISU Punainen Tour — our Vuelta-inspired Grand Tour that celebrates suffering, strategy, climbing grit, and the dream of riding in red.
After successfully hosting all three Grand Tours in 2026 — SISU Pinkki, SISU Tour, and now Punainen — SISU Racing continues to push the boundaries of community-driven esports cycling. What started as a bold idea has evolved into one of the most distinctive race calendars on Zwift, bringing together riders from across the globe to chase jerseys, friendships, and unforgettable moments.
And in Punainen, the dream is simple: wear red.
Inspired by the iconic Vuelta a España leader’s jersey, the SISU Punainen jersey represents resilience, courage, and the willingness to suffer just a little longer than everyone else. It is a jersey built for climbers, opportunists, and riders who come alive when the road tilts upward.
This year’s edition is unapologetically tough. The mountain goats will shine bright.
Alongside the route reveal, SISU Racing can also confirm that we’ll continue innovating in esports racing. For Punainen, we’ll be tweaking the Zwift Race Score bands used throughout the tour — with more details to come in the lead-up to Stage 1.
Importantly, SISU Racing will once again host both an Open Punainen Tour and a dedicated Women’s Punainen Tour— continuing to bring to life our commitment to helping advance the participation of women in cycling esports. Creating more opportunities, visibility, and community for women in racing remains a major priority for SISU Racing in 2026, and Punainen will again provide a dedicated space for women to chase stage victories, jerseys, and unforgettable Grand Tour moments.
2026 SISU Punainen Tour Routes & Dates
Stage 1 — Hilly Route (Watopia) – Individual Time Trial
Saturday 22 August
The tour begins against the clock. Riders will battle solo on Watopia’s iconic Hilly Route, where pacing, positioning, and pain tolerance will define the first riders to wear red. There’s nowhere to hide in an iTT — only you, your bike, and the clock.
Stage 2 — Mayan San Remo (Watopia)
Tuesday 25 August
A deceptively difficult stage that blends rolling terrain with long efforts and tactical opportunities. Expect aggressive racing and teams trying to isolate the climbers before the tour heads deeper into the mountains.
Stage 3 — Three Little Sisters (Watopia)
Saturday 29 August
Three climbs. Endless attacks. This stage is pure Punainen energy. Riders will need to manage repeated surges while still keeping enough in reserve for the decisive final ascent.
Stage 4 — Climbers Gambit (Watopia)
Tuesday 1 September
The name says it all. Climbers Gambit is where ambitious riders may risk everything in pursuit of glory. A stage designed to reward brave racing and punish hesitation.
Stage 5 — Big Loop (Watopia)
Saturday 5 September
One of Watopia’s classic endurance tests. Big Loop combines relentless terrain with accumulating fatigue, making this a pivotal general classification stage before the final mountain showdown begins.
Stage 6 — Mountain 8 (Watopia)
Tuesday 8 September
By Stage 6, legs are heavy and recovery is fading. Mountain 8 delivers another brutal climbing challenge where gaps can grow quickly and the fight for red becomes increasingly desperate.
Stage 7 — Power to the Tower (Watopia) — Queen Stage
Saturday 12 September
The Queen Stage. The summit finish. The ultimate showdown.
Power to the Tower is the perfect finale for Punainen — a savage mountain test where the strongest climbers and toughest minds will emerge victorious. If the red jersey is still in contention heading into the final stage, expect fireworks on the slopes.
The road to red begins this August.
The suffering will be real.
The stories unforgettable.
And somewhere, deep in the pain cave, riders around the world will dream of Punainen.
Let’s go racing!