A year ago, we lost Muriel Furrer, a young Swiss athlete who had her whole life and career ahead of her. Her tragic accidental death left us deeply shocked and stunned. Zurich 2024 remembers Muriel today, together with her family, relatives and friends, and the global cycling community.
We remain deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic death of Muriel at the UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships in Zurich, which she had been looking forward to so much. The Local Organising Committee Zurich 2024 mourns with the Furrer family, Muriel’s relatives and friends, and the cycling community.

A memorial service for Muriel will be held at the Uster Reformed Church on 8 November.
For the start of the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships Zurich on 21 September, the Canton and City of Zurich and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) Zurich 2024 are launching a cooperative traffic management system for the global event together with Viasuisse.
Cooperative traffic management is intended to ensure the flow of traffic on the roads around the race routes during the Cycling Road World Championships. The aim is to provide road users with digitalised information on closures, diversions and other measures via navigation service providers, such as for example Here, TomTom, Apple Maps, Waze, Google Maps to guide you efficiently to your destination.
As numerous visitors from Switzerland and abroad will be travelling by car or other motor vehicles in addition to the local population, information must be sent to all navigation devices and radio stations promptly and up to date. In addition, the targeted recording of road closures enables optimised planning and coordination with other road traffic-related events such as roadworks and events, which can also have an impact on the flow of traffic.
This pilot project, which the canton and city of Zurich and LOC Zurich 2024 are organising together with Viasuisse and the Berlin-based company Prisma, aims to reduce emissions and potential traffic jams to an absolute minimum. The TRAFF-X® system used for this purpose also helps to optimise communication within the canton and the cities and municipalities concerned. Viasuisse is established as a national competence centre for traffic information and is accepted by all relevant stakeholders such as the Federal Roads Office, the police and the media.
Public transport: consult the ZVV online timetable before travelling
During the UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships, a special public transport timetable will be available online. The best connections will be available in real time via the ZVV timetable or the ZVV app.
Public transport travellers are strongly recommended to use these sources of information before starting their journey. The current public transport connections can also be accessed via Google Maps.
No 24-hour closures – pedestrian crossings largely possible
The closure times for the individual racecourses and the associated adjustments to the traffic organisation vary depending on the race day, race programme and municipality. An overview of the detailed routes and closure times can be found on the GIS browser of the Canton of Zurich: https://maps.zh.ch/?topic=KapoRadWMZH.
The roads will be open and passable again from 7pm at the latest on all race days, with the exception of Seefeldquai and neighbouring parts of Mainaustrasse and Feldeggstrasse.
Crossing the championships routes is possible on foot or by bike, which must be pushed. As usual, the roads must be crossed with the necessary caution. In areas of the racecourse that are secured with barriers, crossing is permitted at specially designated points and in accordance with the instructions of the route marshals or security personnel.
Hotline Zurich 2024: 044 215 40 90 (abroad: +41 44 215 40 90)
Useful links:
LOC Zurich 2024: https://zurich2024.com/verkehr/
City of Zurich: https://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/rad-wm#verkehr
Canton of Zurich: https://zh.ch/rad-wm2024
GIS-Browser Canton Zurich: https://maps.zh.ch/?topic=KapoRadWMZH
Public transport (ZVV): www.zvv.ch/rad-wm
Public transport (SBB): www.sbb.ch/zurich2024
Itschnach / A52: www.zh.ch/zufahrtsbewilligung
Reigning UCI World Champions, Olympic Champions and Paralympic gold medallists crowned in Paris – the top stars will be at the start line in Zurich, Switzerland for the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships, which are being held jointly for the first time. In the fan zones, the epic duels and numerous side events can be experienced up close and, thanks to accessibility, inclusively. Various exhibitors are planning exciting hands-on activities. The official website zurich2024.com is in UCI World Championships mode and provides cycling fans with all the information they need at the click of a mouse.
Following the selections by the National Federations, the entry lists or the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships read like a “Who’s Who” of international cycling.
Mathieu Van der Poel (NED), Remco Evenepoel (BEL) and Tadej Pogacar (SLO) in the men’s races and Lotte Kopecky (BEL), Demi Vollering (NED) and Katarzyna Niewiadoma (POL) in the women’s races are among the favourites in the time trials and road races for able-bodied athletes.
In para-cycling, the four divisions of B (tandem), T (tricycle), C (cycling) and H (handbike) will also see numerous top riders such as Mitch Valize (NED, MH5), Emma Lund (DEN, WT2), Heïdi Gaugain (FRA, WC5) and the duo Sophie Unwin / Jenny Hall (GBR, WB) battle it out for the coveted rainbow jerseys, gold medals and UCI World Championship titles.
Swiss among the favourites
Various Swiss riders, such as UCI World Championships ambassador Stefan Küng, have a chance of winning a medal. Marc Hirschi and Mauro Schmid can also be counted among the favourites. The Swiss hopes in women’s racing suffered a setback with the forfait of UCI World Championships ambassador Marlen Reusser due to ill health.
In para-cycling, multiple UCI World Champion and UCI World Championships ambassador Flurina Rigling (WC2), Celine van Till (WT2) and Franziska Matile Dörig (WC4) are among the favourites following their medal wins at the Paralympics in Paris.
Fabian Recher (MH4), another of the event’s ambassadors, is a medal contender in the men’s event, too. He is particularly looking forward to Zurich 2024, as he says in the official video clip: “The UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships at home are something special for me because we are included for the first time. I hope that this will serve as a model for the future.”
“Zurich 2024 will make sporting history,” emphasises Daniel Rupf, General Manager of the Zurich 2024 Local Organising Committee. “The first fully inclusive UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships will make cycling a global pioneer. We are proud to be able to offer the participants and spectators unforgettable and accessible UCI Worlds and would like to thank all of our partners for making this possible.”
Side events: concerts, exhibitors, talks, a film festival and bicycle acrobatics
Fans and other visitors can look forward to direct broadcasts of the races on large screens in the fan zones and at the hotspots, exciting talks with various personalities, the Bicycle Film Festival and cycling acrobatics. The Zurich 2024 ambassador Ritschi, singer from the Swiss cult group Plüsch, Remo Forrer, Tabula Musica and, to kick things off on 21 September, Crimer will entertain the audience on Sechseläutenplatz. The UCI World Champions of the various non-para and para races will also be honoured and celebrated there daily with their gold medals and rainbow jerseys.
At the Velo Expo on Bürkliplatz, the official sponsors of the event, host broadcaster SRF and other exhibitors will be present with exciting activities. There will also be interesting information about cycling: ETH Zurich, Institutional Partner of Zurich 2024, will be demonstrating at its stand how cycling improves quality of life, and how technology can support people with disabilities in sport and everyday life. Numerous exhibitors, including representatives of tourism regions, will be in the fan zone on General-Guisan-Quai. The next two UCI Road World Championships, in Kigali, Rwanda, 2025 and Montreal, Canada, 2026, will also be represented.
Tickets also available at the box office
Tickets for the attractive supporting programme on Sechseläutenplatz can be purchased online or at the box office – including a drinks voucher for the Tibits Food Court and ZVV integration on the day of the event. Tickets for the second race weekend are limited.
Zurich2024.com in UCI World Championships mode – first worldwide TV broadcast of all para-cycling races
Everything fans need to know to make sure they don’t miss any of the highlights of the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships will be available at www.zurich2024.com. The official website of the event has been optimised and boasts numerous new features. The races will be bundled in the Live Race Centre with a wealth of additional information so that fans on site and around the world can follow the 53 non-para and para races online on their preferred devices.
The Swiss company livemotion will be responsible for the live TV production of the more than 40 para-cycling races on behalf of the Zurich 2024 Local Organising Committee. The para-cycling races will be streamed live for the first time worldwide via various platforms. In particular via the EBU Digital Sports platform, which can also be accessed via www.zurich2024.com.
Downloads:
Overview Fanzones and Hotspots
Plans Fanzones Sechseläutenplatz, Bürkliplatz, Münsterhof and General Guisan Quai
Video portrait Fabian Recher on Youtube
Video portrait Franziska Matile Dörig on Youtube
The Swiss Women junior national team completes the circle of ambassadors for the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships in Zurich, Switzerland. As representatives of the Swiss Cycling selection, Muriel Furrer, Lara Liehner and Sirin Städler are part of the event campaign; the juniors are supported by the Swiss Sports Aid Foundation.
To be seen on a poster in the city of Zurich for the first time – this dream is coming true for Muriel Furrer, Lara Liehner and Sirin Städler (from left to right). Just like the already announced ambassadors Fabian Cancellara, Stefan Küng, Marlen Reusser, Fabian Recher, Flurina Rigling and Ritschi, they are part of the campaign for the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships.
The three young talents are members of the Swiss Cycling Women junior national team. The national cycling federation is the host partner of the UCI Road World Championships. They are supported in their careers by the Swiss Sports Aid Foundation, which is also the Main Charity Partner of the event, as part of a sponsorship programme.
Any cycling fan or sports enthusiast can become a sponsor on the sporthilfe.ch website for a sum of CHF 2,500 and support young talents on their way to the top. “We are delighted that all three young talent ambassadors are being supported by Sporthilfe and that the important topic of ‘promoting young talent’ is receiving attention through the integration of young female athletes in the event’s advertising campaigns. After all, they are the future of Swiss sport,” said Steve Schennach, Managing Director of the Swiss Sports Aid Foundation.
Photo: BraschlerFischer for the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships
Axpo, Switzerland’s largest electricity producer, will be an Official Supplier of the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships in Zurich, Switzerland. Axpo’s partner organisation PluSport will also be integrated as part of this cooperation.
In line with the idea of shaping a more inclusive future, Axpo has been committed to people with disabilities for many years, including in a partnership with PluSport, the competence centre for disabled sports in Switzerland. Together with this organisation, Axpo will be the naming partner of the “hosted areas” that will be set up for people with disabilities in the fan zones on Sechseläutenplatz and Bürkliplatz at the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships.
Enjoying the UCI Road World Championships together in the hosted areas
It will be the first time that the UCI Road World Championships and UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships are combined into one event, and the organisers have carried this theme over to the spectator experience. In these areas, people with disabilities can enjoy the event together with friends and family. The areas are equipped with seating cubes that can be easily moved and placed next to a wheelchair, for example. Depending on the time and programme, these guests can take up to three friends or family members with them to one of these hosted areas. Wheelchair-accessible toilets and food and drink stands are located nearby. Volunteers or staff will provide assistance if required. The entire site of the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships is barrier-free so that all visitors can move around freely. A ticket must be purchased for access to Sechseläutenplatz; registered and required accompanying persons of people with disabilities are admitted free of charge.
Everything to know, including a detailed FAQ, is listed in the “Accessibility” section on zurich2024.com.
“Having Axpo and its partner organisation PluSport on the saddle with us is an ideal cooperation between three partners who have the same goal at these UCI World Championships,” says Fabienne Dirksen, Project Manager Sustainability and Inclusion at LOC Zurich 2024. “Together, we are putting the performances of top para-cycling athletes in the public eye. At the same time, we are offering event visitors with disabilities a perfect experience.”
About axpo (https://www.axpo.com/ch/en.html)
Axpo is Switzerland’s largest electricity producer and an international pioneer in energy trading and the marketing of solar and wind power. Together with its partners, the company operates more than 100 power plants. Axpo produces a climate-friendly Swiss electricity mix from hydropower, wind, PV, biomass and nuclear energy, which is characterised by very low CO2 emissions. Around 7,000 employees combine experience and expertise with a passion for innovation and the joint search for ever better solutions. Axpo relies on innovative technologies to fulfil the ever-changing needs of its customers in over 30 countries in Europe, North America and Asia. In doing so, the Axpo Group is committed to promoting a culture of non-discrimination, tolerance and inclusion.
Based on an agreement between the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG) will produce all Elite, Under 23 and Junior races as Host Broadcaster for the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships in Zurich, Switzerland. SRG will produce the world signal on behalf of the UCI and present it live and free-to-air to the Swiss public via the regional SRG channels RTS, RSI and SRF.
SRG will also produce the opening race of Zurich 2024, the para-cycling mixed handbike team relay, on 21 September. As the starting signal for the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling World Championships, this race will also be broadcast live throughout Switzerland.
The Swiss company livemotion will be responsible for the TV production of the remaining more than 40 para-cycling races on behalf of the Zurich 2024 Local Organising Committee. The para-cycling races will be streamed for the first time worldwide via various platforms. In addition, SRG broadcasters will provide news and highlights coverage.
The list of streaming platforms with the links will be announced in the run-up to the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships.
About SRG (www.srgssr.ch)
The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG) comprises five business units (RSI, RTR, RTS, SRF, SWI swissinfo.ch), the General Management and the subsidiary SWISS TXT. SRG’s services are geared towards the diverse needs of multilingual and multicultural Switzerland. SRG is committed to a lively and diverse sports landscape and reports on sport on all channels, platforms and in all language regions. This makes SRG the first port of call for high-quality and relevant sports content throughout Switzerland.
About livemotion (livemotion.ch)
livemotion produces live broadcasts of sporting events and offers individualised products with its innovative concepts and the latest technologies to make these events to make these events accessible to a broad public. The productions cover both competitive and popular sports and range from simple streams to complex broadcasts. livemotion is responsible for the entire process from conception to distribution.
One month before the start of the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships on 21 September, the Canton and City of Zurich and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) are implementing further communication measures to organise traffic during the global cycling event.
The hotline of the Zurich 2024 Local Organising Committee has been active since 2 p.m. today. The number is:
044 215 40 90 (from abroad: +41 44 215 40 90)
This number provides callers with information in German and English on the World Championships in general, transport organisation and other topics such as travel.
Operating hours:
22 August to 13 September: Monday to Friday, 10 am to 4 pm
16 to 19 September: from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
From 20 September up to
and including 29 September: daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Direct information for particularly affected neighbourhoods
Residents, businesses and other affected parties in Witikon, the Bellevue/Zurich East area and the affected households in Oerlikon/Schwamendingen will receive brochures and flyers on traffic organisation at the end of August. The detailed overviews of traffic and public transport as well as various maps explain the traffic organisation that will apply during the two phases of the UCI World Championships.
Traffic control measures “ITSCHNACH” Forchautostrasse A52 will be implemented from 25 September 2024
The 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships will be split into two phases. The road races with mass starts will begin on Wednesday, 25 September. Only during these road races will the so-called City Circuit, the circuit to be ridden several times, be in operation. This is when the traffic restrictions will be at their greatest.
In this second phase, the special regulations will apply to the entire Zurich East area. From 25 to 29 September 2024, access to Hottingen, Hirslanden, Weinegg, Mühlebach and Seefeld by car will only be possible via the Forchautostrasse A52 from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Important: An access permit is required for simplified access. Road users who wish to drive into this area during this period are advised to download this permit. Detailed instructions are available on the canton’s website at the link above.
ZVV online timetable in world championship mode
During the event, a special public transport timetable will apply, which is already available online. The best connections will be available in real time via the Zurich Transport Network ZVV timetable or the ZVV app. Public transport travellers are strongly recommended to use these sources of information before starting their journey.
ZVV tickets and route tickets for direct national transport (e.g. Berne – Zurich, Witikon centre) are valid during race times for the diversions suggested in the online timetable. No connecting tickets or route changes need to be purchased for routes deviating from the original route.
Restrictions on postal services
The road closures and traffic restrictions during the UCI Road World Championships also have a significant impact on Swiss Post’s operations. Swiss Post will do everything it can to keep the restrictions as minimal as possible. However, it must be assumed that there will be delays or cancellations for the delivery and collection of consignments. Detailed information about the restrictions on postal services and alternative services can be found at www.post.ch/zurich2024.
No 24-hour closures – pedestrian crossings largely possible
The closure times for the individual racecourses and the associated adjustments to the traffic organisation vary depending on the race day and race programme. An overview of the detailed routes and closure times can be found on the GIS browser of the Canton of Zurich: https://maps.zh.ch/?topic=KapoRadWMZH.
The roads will be open and passable again from 7pm at the latest on all race days, with the exception of Seefeldquai and neighbouring parts of Mainaustrasse and Feldeggstrasse.
Crossing the championships routes is possible on foot or by bike, which must be pushed. As usual, the roads must be crossed with the necessary caution. In areas of the racecourse that are secured with barriers, crossing is permitted at specially designated points and in accordance with the instructions of the route marshals or security personnel.
Before and during the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships in September, communication on transport will be further intensified.
Useful links:
LOC Zurich 2024: https://zurich2024.com/verkehr/
City of Zurich: https://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/rad-wm#verkehr
Canton of Zurich: https://zh.ch/rad-wm2024
GIS-Browser Canton Zurich: https://maps.zh.ch/?topic=KapoRadWMZH
Public transport (ZVV): www.zvv.ch/rad-wm
Public transport (SBB): www.sbb.ch/zurich2024
Itschnach / A52: www.zh.ch/zufahrtsbewilligung
Further information: [email protected]
The entire, great history of cycling in Zurich would fill volumes of books. But some of the countless stories about famous people, clubs or races need to be told, namely about three magical and legendary names: Züri Metzgete, Offene Rennbahn and the Zurich Six Days in the Hallenstadion.
Author: Heier Lämmler
The Championship of Zurich
From 1910 to 2015, the Radfahrer-Verein-Zürich organised the “Championship of Zurich”, as Switzerland’s oldest cycle race was originally called. In 1978, a total of over 1,000 cyclists lined up at the start. It was given the nickname “Züri Metzgete” (Zurich butchering) because of the mass crashes and bleeding wounds that often occurred on the natural roads.

The event is still known throughout Europe today – it has an inestimable marketing value and is also protected by copyright as the “Züri Metzgete”. The issue of money – the search for sponsors or institutions to fund it – was, of course, a recurring theme in the accounting and the over one hundred-year history of this classic event. Today, even greater obstacles stand in the way of a new edition, for example, the many roundabouts.
Zurich’s living monument to cycling
The open-air racetrack in Zurich-Oerlikon, the world’s first prestressed concrete structure and a masterpiece of construction history, was built in 1912 in a crazy era when humanity seemed to be capable of anything technically possible. Even an unsinkable Titanic. The sports facility was often declared dead and was just as often the object of speculation by colourful personalities.
The 1920s and 1930s were a time of sporting highlights, with races often attracting up to 12,000 enthusiastic fans. The unpredictable weather conditions led to the construction of a covered cycle racing track right next to it, which was opened as the Hallenstadion in 1939.

The 333.33-metre long open track also experienced golden years in the early 1950s with Hugo Koblet and Ferdy Kübler. The finish of the Tour de Suisse was like a euphorically celebrated folk festival. Although the facility was built in a swamp, it never sank – unlike the aforementioned ocean liner.
It is one of the listed buildings in the canton of Zurich. Thanks to a revitalisation programme made possible by taxpayers in 2020/21, the facility is in excellent condition. The open-air track is once again enjoying great popularity among broad sections of the population thanks to regular cycling activities, a wide range of training and event options, and Tuesday evening races during the summer months.
Video killed the Six-Day Stars
Even today, the six-day races at the Hallenstadion are fondly remembered. The scent of freedom and adventure could be experienced there. The nights were notorious for the clouds of cigarette and cigar smoke from an audience with a hunger for getting out in the evening and sinful behaviour. That was the time when Zurich still had a closing time. No young person today can imagine what that was like. After the closing time, there was a ban on serving alcohol and the state-enforced night-time curfew.
The first six-day race took place in the Hallenstadion in Zurich in 1954, but it was over for the time being in 2001. In 2007, between Christmas and New Year, the event was revived for the 50th time and lasted reasonably well until 2014. Then the six-day race theme passed away, probably for good. Video killed the Sixday stars. The type of race – be it an Americaine, Derny or Steher race – experienced its heyday in the days before television in Switzerland was broadcast in colours, thanks to clever dramaturgical refinements with the sole aim of captivating the audience and keeping them in the hall to celebrate.

The restaurant company tibits will be an Official Supplier of the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships in Zurich, Switzerland. Founded in 2000 in the city’s Seefeld district, the family-run business attaches great importance to sustainable food. The Local Organising Committee (LOC) Zurich 2024 also includes this claim in its sustainability charter. The declared aim is for 75 per cent of the culinary offerings to be vegetarian or vegan.
A healthy diet is the be-all and end-all for top athletes, but also for all of us. Thanks to the partnership with tibits, fans and guests will be able to fuel up for the exciting races of the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships with freshly prepared vegetarian and vegan delicacies.
A large and diverse range of specialties
tibits will be responsible for a large part of the catering on site in the UCI Lounge. The VIP area will be open daily from morning to evening and will offer these specialities as well as other dishes and a direct view of the finish line. The catering company will also operate the large food court in the Zurich Film Festival Dome on Sechseläutenplatz. Spectators with Fan Experience tickets will be able to enjoy all-day catering there. Of course, the fan zones will also offer other delicacies, from the obligatory sausage to local, seasonal dishes and sweet treats. Together with a partner, tibits will also be offering delicious ice cream specialities on Sechseläutenplatz, General-Guisan-Quai and Bürkliplatz, hopefully in late summer temperatures.
Marlen Reusser as joint ambassador
In addition to the focus on sustainable food, tibits and the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships also share an official ambassador. Marlen Reusser, the Swiss Olympic silver medallist in the Tokyo 2020 time trial, launched the “Sour Cherry & Kakao High Five Bar” energy bar together with tibits at the end of 2023. Further products featuring the three-time time trial European Champion in relations with UCI World Championships are in preparation.
UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships atmosphere at tibits in Zurich and Winterthur
For Daniel Frei, one of the co-founders and CEO of tibits, the cooperation is obvious in terms of values and goals, as well as geographically. “Our entire team is looking forward to nine days of top-class sport and cuisine at these uniquely inclusive 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships. Fans, VIPs and other guests will enjoy the UCI World Championships feeling on Sechseläutenplatz, but also in our restaurants in Zurich and at the start venue in Winterthur.”
“Thanks to the cooperation with tibits, we are achieving our self-imposed goal of offering the fans in the Sechseläutenplatz fan zone and the VIPs a varied range of vegetarian food,” emphasised Gabriela Buchs, co-project manager of the supporting events. “Sustainability is also a top priority in the catering area. Thanks to the partnership with tibits and its nearby restaurants and production sites, healthy, fresh enjoyment is guaranteed.”
About tibits (https://www.tibits.ch/)
tibits, derived from the English “tidbits”, stands for enjoyable, fresh and healthy food and drink. The family business was founded in 2000 by the Frei brothers and the Hiltl family, the owners of the oldest vegetarian restaurant in the world, “Haus Hiltl”.
The idea for tibits came about as part of the Venture 98 business plan competition, an event organised by ETH Zurich and McKinsey. The brothers Daniel, Reto and Christian Frei won two awards for their business plan “Vegetarian Fast Food Restaurants”. Rolf Hiltl learnt about this project from the media and contacted the Frei brothers. Together they founded a company and realised the idea with the over one hundred years of catering experience of “Haus Hiltl” in accordance with the credo of further developing enjoyable, fresh and healthy vegetarian and vegan cuisine. The success story, which began in Zurich Seefeld in 2000, continues in Aarau, Bern, Basel, Lausanne, Lucerne, St. Gallen, Winterthur, Zug and Darmstadt.