With the World Cycling and Paracycling Championships, the eyes of the cycling world will be on Zurich for nine days from Saturday. The epicenter of the major event is Sechseläutenplatz in the middle of the city.
Where the Böögg is usually burned or the Swiss national circus sets up its tents every year, the first inclusive World Cycling and Paracycling Championships will see riders sprinting for the coveted rainbow jerseys - in all classes and age categories. Zurich's most popular fairground right on the lakeshore is the finish line for all 53 races.
The first race on Saturday will be the mixed relay for handbikers on a so-called "Seefeld Circuit" along the right side of the lake. The starting shot for most of the para-cycling competitions will be fired at Sechseläutenplatz. The start of the men's time trial on Sunday will be at the Open Racecourse in Oerlikon, as a tribute to earlier times.
City Circuit - the heart of the World Championship routes
Otherwise, the starting locations are spread throughout the canton: from Gossau via Uster and Oerlikon to Winterthur, where the men's road race will begin in a week's time on Sunday at the end of the World Championships. The longest World Championship race for over 35 years covers 273.9 kilometers and almost 4500 meters of altitude and is predestined for classic specialists.
After a long approach, the peloton reaches the heart of the route, the "City Circuit", after a good third of the race. The 27 km loop around Zurich has to be completed seven times for the men and four times for the women the day before. They start in Uster and take a loop around Lake Greifensee before the final circuit, which includes two major climbs on Zürichbergstrasse and in Witikon.
Bike festival beyond the city limits
The two steepest sections will be popular hotspots for the public, along with the finishing straight on Utoquai. Various fan zones with supporting programs will be set up in the city of Zurich. An admission ticket is required for the finish area at Sechseläutenplatz, where the medal ceremonies will also take place.
The major event had caused a stir in the run-up to the event due to the restrictions on road traffic. Now the organizers are hoping for a popular festival beyond the city limits. The starting towns of Winterthur, Gossau and Uster are also offering a supporting program. In Winterthur, for example, the Velofäscht takes place on the final weekend. Over the nine days of the race, 850,000 spectators are expected to line the World Championship routes. Around 350 million from around 150 countries will also be watching on TV. The picturesque old town and the lake provide the perfect backdrop for the racing spectacle.
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