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.
Gery Verlinden (BEL) wins the Zueri Metzgete in 1980.
Copyright: Foto-net, Gabor Horvath
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 Open Racecourse Oerlikon and the
the Hallenstadion in the background, two icons
of cycling in Zurich.
Copyright: Foto-net, Kurt Schorrer
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.
