The 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships put cycling at the centre of attention. With the “lighthouse”, the world championships, and above all through the various accompanying measures, the three hosting entities, the City and Canton of Zurich and Swiss Cycling, are specifically promoting cycling, sports and tourism/location, thus leaving a special legacy.
The Zurich 2024 Local Organising Committee has developed a wide range of accompanying measures. Starting with the Züri Velo Cup, which was launched as the first initiative in 2023, they range from the organisation of the first national cycling forum (planned for May 2024) to helping to define a new standard for the construction of a compact bike infrastructure that can be implemented throughout Switzerland. In addition, as of September 2023, Swiss Cycling has created a new position with the aim of promoting young cyclists in the Zurich region – a project with pilot character for other regions as well.
The accompanying measures are already showing the first signs of success. Since its launch in May 2023, the Züri Velo Cup has attracted over 1,000 cyclists to sections of the legendary one-day classic Züri Metzgete. In September, 41,000 cyclists benefited from the extension of the SlowUp route from Zurich to Meilen.
Starting locations are also active. For example in Uster, where top athletes lead a lesson under the label “Stars in the School”, with for example, Swiss ex-cyclist Franco Marvulli who practised with various school classes on the pump track.
Further projects will be launched in 2024. Among other things, curated routes will connect the greater Zurich region and invite visitors to one-day or multi-day experiences – all year round. The routes are presented with GPX data, descriptions, photos and videos and are suitable for a wide range of users. Families or city bikers will get their money’s worth as well as gravel fans and para-cyclists. A dedicated website will facilitate the planning of bike rides and simplify activities for organisers, tour operators and bike clubs.
With the President of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) David Lappartient in attendance, the Zurich 2024 Local Organising Committee presented the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships to cycling’s National Federations in Glasgow, Scotland. It was the first-ever presentation of the altitude profiles of the routes on which the world’s best road cyclists and para-cyclists will compete from 21 to 29 September 2024.
The end of one UCI World Championships always heralds the following year’s event. Shortly before the conclusion of the UCI Cycling World Championships that took place in Glasgow and across Scotland, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) Zurich 2024 gave an overview of the state of preparations for next year’s UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships. This preview was made at the traditional “N+1” event, at which the organisers of the following year present themselves.
Routes for complete riders
The altitude profiles of the different race routes (see download information on page 2) attracted the biggest attention. Switzerland’s top two Men Elite riders Stefan Küng and Stefan Bissegger, who travelled to Glasgow for the presentation after the individual time trial in Stirling, gave their first assessments. “With the two climbs in the road race circuit, there will be movement in the races. They will be open and exciting,” Küng said. Bissegger echoed his view and added: “The races will definitely be difficult.” Both regard the home UCI World Championships as an absolute career highlight.
The main circuit will also be completed by para-cyclists of different sport classes. For Tobias Fankhauser, Senior Manager Para-cycling of the LOC and himself a Paralympic medallist, the integration of para-cycling into the UCI Road World Championships is a huge step. “With Zurich 2024, we will put para-cycling right in the middle of the world’s public eye.”
UCI President David Lappartient is also looking forward to the next UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships. “Zurich and the surrounding hills have a long history in cycling and will be the scene of great races,” Lappartient stated in his welcome address.
Observer tour gives LOC important insights
Under the leadership of Daniel Rupf and his deputy Olivier Senn, the LOC Zurich 2024 followed the UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow both in front of and behind the scenes. “In the discussions with the UCI and with the Scottish organisers, we received a lot of valuable advice, which we are taking on board in our planning,” Rupf noted. “Now it’s our turn. With the One Year To Go event on 21 September, the countdown to the UCI World Championships year begins for us.”
Accommodation can be booked now
The LOC also presented the starting locations of Zurich and Zurich-Oerlikon as well as Gossau, Uster and Winterthur. Also in the foreground were the arrangements for the accommodation of the expected several thousand riders and accompanying staff as well as the visitors from outside. The reservation platform launched in cooperation with the Official Supplier Kuoni Tumlare at https://zurich2024.com/en/accommodation/ already gives delegations, media and fans the opportunity to book hotel accommodation.
Note:
The altitude profiles of the courses of the UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships Zurich 2024 are available at the following link:
The LOC Zurich 2024 are launching a white-label platform in collaboration with Kuoni Tumlare to allow delegations, media and fans to book, as of now, hotel accommodation for their stay at the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships. Kuoni Tumlare specialises in destination management and will support the LOC (Local Organising Committee) Zurich 2024 as Official Supplier in all matters relating to hotel accommodation. The platform can be accessed via the official Zurich 2024 website at https://zurich2024.com/en/accommodation/.
1300 cyclists and para-cyclists from 75 nations, several thousand supporting personnel and officials, hundreds of media representatives and an estimated 750,000 to 850,000 spectators from Switzerland and abroad: the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships Zurich will be a major event in every respect. For those requiring accommodation in hotels, the LOC Zurich 2024 has concluded an agreement with Kuoni Tumlare. The company, which specialises in destination management among other things, is the exclusive official accommodation agency and will provide participants and fans in Zurich and the surrounding area with accommodation and local services.
Large room inventory – customised solutions
Kuoni Tumlare is providing a white-label booking platform for this purpose. Daniel Rupf, managing director of the LOC Zurich 2024, sees this offer as another milestone on the way to the successful staging of the UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships. “The platform, embedded in our official website Zurich2024.com, offers for anyone, from teams to media representatives and fans, a simple and quick way to find and book the right accommodation from a large selection of hotels in all categories. Tailor-made offers, especially for teams and their riders with disabilities, help us to achieve our goal of inclusion and integration.”
Marco Russi, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Kuoni Tumlare: “We are very proud and pleased that Kuoni Tumlare is supporting the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships in Zurich as Official Supplier. Thanks to our network in the hotel industry and our local expertise as DMC (Destination Management Company) in Switzerland, we can provide a large and diverse room selection through our innovative booking platform that will meet the needs of the participating teams, sponsors as well as visitors.”
Bookings possible as of now
Interested persons can now book hotel rooms for their stay in Zurich and the surrounding area such as starting locations Winterthur, Uster and Gossau. An interactive overview map is linked to the offers of the numerous hotels. Various search filters make it easier for users to find suitable hotel accommodation.
Reserved quotas for delegations and media
Reserved room allotments have been set aside for the national team delegations, officials and media. Specialists from Kuoni Tumlare and LOC Zurich 2024 will be available to answer any questions or deal with any particular concerns.
About Kuoni Tumlare (www.kuonitumlare.com)
With our strong global footprint, rich expertise, diverse offerings and established partnerships, we offer stability and agility that can’t be found elsewhere. We have a wide portfolio of products and solutions, including destination management, meetings, incentives, congresses, and travel arrangements. Our solutions are built on 100+ years of experience in destination management in Switzerland to create maximum value for our clients, suppliers, and wider society.
The TX Group media company is getting on its bike to support the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships Zurich as part of a far-reaching partnership.
The agreement between the major event and the media group means that the TX Group, through Tamedia and the SonntagsZeitung, will be the Official Partner of the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships in its home city of Zurich. It is also committed as a media partner through the Tages-Anzeiger. The marketing agency Goldbach Manufaktur AG, which also belongs to the TX Group, will support the Local Organising Committee, LOC Zurich 2024, in the implementation of the partnership and in the acquisition of additional sponsors.
Sponsorship Milestone for the LOC
Thanks to the multi-dimensional new cooperation with the TX Group, the Local Organising Committee is well on track in the organisation and realisation of the 2024 UCI Cycling and Para-cycling Road World Championships Zurich, as General Project Manager Daniel A. Rupf states: “We are very pleased to welcome the TX Group as our first Official Partner. The TX Group with Tamedia and its diverse national and regional print and online media is an ideal partner for us to bring the 2024 UCI Cycling and Para-cycling World Championships Zurich closer to the fans and the public not only in the city and canton of Zurich but also in the rest of Switzerland – from now until September 2024.”
Tamedia is the leading editorial network in Switzerland. The daily and weekly newspapers, magazines and news platforms are well established not only in the city and canton of Zurich, but also in the Mittelland and the French-speaking region of Switzerland.
Special Opportunities for Prospective World Championships Partners
The collaboration between the TX Group and the LOC Zurich 2024 includes media solutions for partners and sponsors of the 2024 UCI Cycling and Para-cycling Road World Championships Zurich, both in print and online platforms. “With this approach partners and potentially other supporters of the 2024 World Cycling Championships can display their commitment in a targeted manner and together we can reach and engage with the specific audiences,” explains Marco Gasser, Managing Director Content & Sponsoring at Goldbach Manufaktur.
About the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships Zurich
The 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships Zurich will be held in the Canton and City of Zurich from 21st -29th September 2024. The best 1300 riders, including para-cyclists, from more than 75 countries will take part in this major nine-day sporting event with global appeal. The UCI Road World Championships take place annually and are viewed by a worldwide audience of more than 350 million.
TX (www.tx.group)
The TX Group forms a network of platforms and participations that offers users information, orientation, entertainment and assistance for everyday life on a daily basis. Its roots lie in journalism with the diverse newspapers of Tamedia and the media of 20 Minuten. The portfolio is complemented by the advertising marketer Goldbach. Founded in 1893, the company has been listed on the Swiss stock exchange since 2000.
Tamedia (www.tamedia.ch)
Tamedia dates back to 1893, when the newspaper Tages-Anzeiger was founded. Today, the national media house is active in the German- and French-speaking regions of Switzerland and incorporates the country’s leading editorial network. Tamedia’s daily and weekly newspapers, magazines and news platforms combine strong local roots with an international network. Tamedia’s well-known media brands include 24 heures, Basler Zeitung, Bilan, BZ Berner Zeitung, Das Magazin, Der Bund, Finanz und Wirtschaft, Le Matin Dimanche, Schweizer Familie, SonntagsZeitung, Tages-Anzeiger, Tribune de Genève as well as the Zurich regional newspapers (ZRZ). Tamedia is part of the TX Group.
Goldbach Manufaktur (www.goldbach.com)
Goldbach Manufaktur comprises the Advertising Services and Content & Sponsoring divisions. Advertising Services implements individual, performance-oriented marketing solutions in Switzerland. These are based on the media and advertising assets of the TX Group network, Goldbach and Neo Advertising and range from TV, digital video and audio to 20min.ch and Out of Home. Goldbach Manufaktur AG is a subsidiary of the Goldbach Group Ltd, with its registered office in Küsnacht. The Goldbach Group Ltd operates mainly in Switzerland, Austria and Germany, and is a TX Group company.
Further Information:
LOC 2024 UCI Road and Para-Cycling Road World Championships Zurich
Andreas Herren, Head of Communication / Email: andreas.herren@zurich2024.com / Mob.: +41 79 799 00 46
Goldbach Manufaktur AG
Lukas Bolliger, Brand & Content Marketing Manager / Mail: lukas.bolliger@goldbach.com /
Mob: +41 79 482 56 47
The 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships Zurich will have a lasting impact, leaving behind a strong legacy beyond the event thanks to a wide range of accompanying measures. Following is an overview of the planned projects (as of December 2022):
A diverse network of cycle routes in the Canton of Zurich will appeal to a wide range of users. The routes connect the greater Zurich region and encourage cyclists to enjoy trips and experiences lasting one or more days. The routes are designed to motivate and inspire cyclists with different levels of ability and on different types of bikes. Zurich residents and visitors will be able to benefit from a wealth of helpful information and attractive special offers.
Cycling history was first made on Zurich’s streets 100 years ago. The UCI World Championships were held here for the first time in 1923. To mark the 100th anniversary of this event and to revive the memory of the legendary “Züri Metzgete” one-day race, the most prominent sections of the route will be set up as a challenge for road cyclists. A kick-off event in May 2023 will provide an opportunity to experience the UCI World Championships atmosphere.
In cooperation with the cantonal cycle traffic office and other organisations, several bicycle festivals will be organised to tour the Canton of Zurich in the form of a road show. The events are to be continued in subsequent years as local bicycle festivals. The Roadshow 2024 consists of a modular programme with various elements and infrastructures such as a pump track, safety course, introductory courses, track stands for balancing exercises, bike & handbike roller sprint facility and a newly developed bike sprint simulator.
From 2024 the national Cycling Forum will take place annually and will focus on topics such as urban mobility, leisure, sport and exercise. The content of the forum including keynote speakers, panels and workshops will be digitally available to the general public.
In cooperation with Swiss Cycling this project aims to provide young people with an age-appropriate experience of various cycling disciplines. The three-level structure of the project is designed to make cycling fun for children and young people and to enable them to discover different cycling disciplines. Local cycling clubs will also be involved in this project.
At the Para-cycling Discovery Days, active and aspiring para-athletes from all divisions are invited to a collaborative event where they can exchange ideas, inspire and motivate each other.
A Trail Centre is a course on relatively flat terrain. Exciting routes for off-road cyclists and hand cyclists (MTB and gravel) are created in a manageable area. The Trail Centre makes it possible to learn new cycling skills in a suitable environment.
The realisation of a trail centre as a pilot project should motivate other municipalities to follow suit. Interested municipalities can apply for the pilot trail centre.
Further Information:
LOC 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships Zurich
Erwin Flury and Nathalie Schneitter
Co-Project Leaders for Accompanying Measures and Sustainability
EMail: erwin.flury@zurich2024.com / nathalie.schneitter@zurich2024.com
Web: www.zurich2024.com
Zurich Cycling Routes, Cycling Discovery Days and a national Cycling Forum: with these and other accompanying measures, the Zurich 2024 Local Organising Committee will implement a wide range of cycling activities beyond the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships Zurich leaving them as a legacy for the public.
With their bid for the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships, the City and Canton of Zurich committed to the introduction of various accompanying measures. The Local Organising Committee (LOC) has taken on the task of developing these measures, the first of which will be implemented in Spring 2023. Others will follow over the year and a half leading up to the UCI World Championships in September 2024 and continue thereafter.
The supporting initiatives include projects to promote the sport of cycling, the use of bicycles in general and to showcase the region (for details see Fact Sheet Accompanying Measures). These measures will motivate, inspire, inform and initiate discussions related to cycling. With the national Cycling Forum, for example, an important congress is to be launched that combines national cycling topics from mobility to leisure. The newly designed Zurich Cycling Routes and the Zurich Cycling Challenge will motivate recreational cyclists to get on their bikes. A Roadshow will organise cycling festivals at various locations to get the public in the mood for the UCI World Championships. With the Cycling and Para-cycling Discovery Days, the LOC and its three governing entities, Swiss Cycling and the City and Canton of Zurich, are launching an important project to promote young talent, which will have an impact locally as well as regionally and nationally. The realisation of the “Trail Centre Zurich” as a pilot project should inspire other municipalities to follow suit.
The accompanying measures will combine and consolidate the existing strategies of the three governing entities in the areas of transport, mobility, environment, sports promotion, tourism and local promotion.
In order to reach these goals, the Zurich City Council has approved a contribution of 1,500,000 CHF. The Canton has also earmarked additional funding for activities and projects from various available sources including funds set aside for public benefit, bicycle traffic and sports. At the national level, the Federal government will provide 1,500,000 CHF to support the sports promotion projects of Swiss Cycling.
The measures were developed by Erwin Flury and Nathalie Schneitter, who joined the LOC Zurich 2024 in the summer of 2022 as Co-Project Leaders for Accompanying Measures and Sustainability. In the second half of 2022 the LOC, under the leadership of Daniel Rupf (General Project Manager) and Olivier Senn (Deputy General Project Manager and Head of Sports) was further strengthened with the recruitment of additional specialists from the cycling scene and other areas, including Gabriela Buchs and Adrien Merkt as Co-Project Leaders for Supporting Events. Tobias Fankhauser, the top handcyclist who retired a year ago, is Senior Manager responsible for para-cycling. The LOC project team is completed by Andreas Herren, Head of Communication, as well as staff from the Canton and City of Zurich, who coordinate the operational collaboration with the public sector.
The 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships Zurich will be held in the Canton and City of Zurich from 21st -29th September 2024. The best 1300 riders, including para-cyclists, from more than 75 countries will take part in this major nine-day sporting event with global appeal. The UCI Road World Championships take place annually and are viewed by a worldwide audience of more than 300 million.
Attachment: Fact Sheet Accompanying Measures
Further Information:
LOC 2024 UCI Road and Para-Cycling Road World Championships Zurich
Andreas Herren, Head of Communication / Email: andreas.herren@zurich2024.com / Mob.: +41 79 799 00 46