2024 Zurich WC routes revealed

[Red Rick]

It's the exact lap that was rumored earlier and posted in the MvdP thread among others. The poisitive surprise is the overall distance is about 280km


The circuit profile

Mens elite RR

Womens elite RR

Mens elite ITT

Women elite and mens u23 ITT

Junior ITT

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

TT too hard for Ganna?

 

[Berniece]

Pogacar RR
Remco ITT

 

[Panda Claws]

TT too hard for Ganna?

He's not ganna give up without a fight

 

[Netserk]

For a “sprint friendly” long circuit, it is quite good. Should allow for a tactical race, like last year.

We haven’t had anyone other than Rebellin(?) excel in OG and WC the same year, so that should affect this race as well.

 

[Red Rick]

For a “sprint friendly” long circuit, it is quite good. Should allow for a tactical race, like last year.

We haven’t had anyone other than Rebellin(?) excel in OG and WC the same year, so that should affect this race as well.

What durable sprinters can potentially make it aside from Van Aert, Laporte and Pedersen?

In my opinion the 2 climbs we have, with the short distance between them and the lack of a descent on top already favor Evenepoel and Pogacar over MvdP and Van Aert.

 

[Netserk]

If it would be ridden like Bergen, Philipsen would survive. Girmay too. Matthews, if he is not too old.

I guess Trentin will be Italy’s best card. I guess Spain would do best in a reduced sprint as well.

 

[Billie]

It's a long lap. The 2 hills in the penultimate lap will be 50km from the finish. I don't think it's that hard.

 

[Red Rick]

It's a long lap. The 2 hills in the penultimate lap will be 50km from the finish. I don't think it's that hard.

The top guys will do the 2 hills in the final lap at a million watts and I don't expect the sprinters to cope or come back easily.

There's no group of domestiques in this world that's gonna bring Evenepoel back here to name one scenario

 

[Netserk]

The top guys will do the 2 hills in the final lap at a million watts and I don't expect the sprinters to cope or come back easily.

There's no group of domestiques in this world that's gonna bring Evenepoel back here to name one scenario

If a group of at least four riders are together at the top of the last hill, they are unlikely to go full gas together to the line.

In fact, if at least two riders are together, I think more riders will eventually bridge no matter what.

 

[KZD]

The road race reminds me a bit of Bergen or GP Montreal but with a longer loop, I think this suits Van Aert really well he is one of the few fast riders that will be almost impossible to drop and then has almost 20km to recover before the sprint. However I can see also see Remco winning this with an attack in the last climb or maybe Pogačar winning if he follows his wheel and beat him in the sprint. For Van der Poel, I think the climbs are a bit too long for him to follow those two and if its a reduced bunch sprint I don't think he wins.

Glad that the time trial is both long and hard, hardest one since Innsbrück I would say. Can't see any of the pure time trialists beating Remco. A top shape Vingegård could actually be Remco's biggest rival here but his chances to defend the rainbow jersey are really good.

 

[OlavEH]

It's the exact lap that was rumored earlier and posted in the MvdP thread among others. The poisitive surprise is the overall distance is about 280km


The circuit profile

The very definition of a "meh-route".

 

[Netserk]

All eyes will be on Belgium, the onus will be on them to control the race. But as both captains will aim for Paris, we’ll see if it’s going to be more like Leuven.

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

For a “sprint friendly” long circuit, it is quite good. Should allow for a tactical race, like last year.

We haven’t had anyone other than Rebellin(?) excel in OG and WC the same year, so that should affect this race as well.

Funny, my first thoughs were OG + WC combo too. However, I was thinking Bettini (because I was thinking Züri Metzgete in same breath) and not Rebellin (R.I.P.), but I was switching Paolini and Bettini regarding the Verona 2004 worlds in my memory. Don't remember how Bettini's Verona Worlds went.

 

[DNP-Old]

Pogacar RR
Remco ITT

Remco RR
Remco ITT

 

[Billie]

Funny, my first thoughs were OG + WC combo too. However, I was thinking Bettini (because I was thinking Züri Metzgete in same breath) and not Rebellin (R.I.P.), but I was switching Paolini and Bettini regarding the Verona 2004 worlds in my memory. Don't remember how Bettini's Verona Worlds went.

He had to abandon after bumping/hurting his knee on Ballerini's team car.

 

[Gigs_98]

Very similar characteristics to last year. Longer lap and longer distance from the climbs to the finish, but slightly harder climbs to balance it out.

I fear to sound like a broken record but like with every hilly route nowadays I really think this is looking great for Evenepoel. The only ones I trust to beat him on this kind of route are 90° corners but they won't show up I'm adraid.

 

[gavia88]

I think the lap is even a bit longer than roumered earlier (27 vs 21), but the climbs are exactly the same.

It's a bit of a weird route. The climbs are slightly harder then in Bergen, but the laps are 8 kilometer longer as well. So, in the last lap, it's still 20 kilometer after the last hill. I can't rember a WC with such a distance from the last climb till the finish. A few years ago I would definitely have said, it's like Bergen, Geelong, Salzburg, a reduced bunch sprint. But how last WC's have been raced, I'm not sure. Lot of potentiel riders that could be able to win.

Most interesting will be if Belgium is going to control and try to get a sprint with or Philipsen or van Aert or will make the race hard for Evenepoel.

 

[Gigs_98]

I think the lap is even a bit longer than roumered earlier (27 vs 21), but the climbs are exactly the same.

It's a bit of a weird route. The climbs are slightly harder then in Bergen, but the laps are 8 kilometer longer as well. So, in the last lap, it's still 20 kilometer after the last hill. I can't rember a WC with such a distance from the last climb till the finish. A few years ago I would definitely have said, it's like Bergen, Geelong, Salzburg, a reduced bunch sprint. But how last WC's have been raced, I'm not sure. Lot of potentiel riders that could be able to win.

Most interesting will be if Belgium is going to control and try to get a sprint with or Philipsen or van Aert or will make the race hard for Evenepoel.

You are not getting Philipsen over those hills if Pog and MvdP are riding.

 

[Red Rick]

You are not getting Philipsen over those hills if Pog and MvdP are riding.

Selecting Philipsen should get you fired.

Just like this year.

 

[Red Rick]

Actually very disappointing the womens race is only 157km. They should do a full lap more.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Selecting Philipsen should get you fired.

Just like this year.

This year selecting him wasn't the problem at the start, but keeping him on the team when he said he wouldn't chase down Van der Poel is something only a spineless coach would do.

Overall not a bad route and with MvP, Pogacar and Evenepoel I really don't expect a conservative race.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Road race: Masnada
Time trial: who cares?

 

[Riek s]

So a little lighter than LBL (similar amount of climbing but less steep). Should have many candidates and the current WC isn't completely chanceless on this parcour. Seems hard enough to not have many workers anymore to close a gap after the last climb.

Wonder who will pick WC over OG next year though. It will be hard to peak for both OG and WC RR. Since you probably want the tour as prep for OG and the Vuelta as prep for WC.

 

[Berniece]

Isn’t this route to hard for MVDP and WVA if they really go hard from the start? The climb isn’t as steep as La Redoute, but a bit longer and if you do this 8 times… Total amount of climbing is also as much as Liege.

Other countries just need to make the race as hard as possible and then stick to Remco’s wheel of he tries to attack. Honestly if he’s in form it shouldn’t be too difficult for Pogacar to win this.

For the first time ever I might go and watch the WC live.