After a week of events for all categories, the Zurich 2024 Cycling World Championships will end with the Elite Men’s race on Sunday September 29. The very hilly profile of the road race should crown a particularly strong man but with a final circuit to be covered 7 times, these Worlds could also be suitable for tricky runners who will make the most of the specificities of the Swiss route. Discover the route and all the details of the 273.9km long event between Winterthur and Zurich for the succession of Mathieu Van der Poel.
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On Sunday, September 29, the elite men’s runners will set off on a course of 273.9 kilometers, including an elevation gain of 4,470 meters. After starting from Winterthur and a first hilly part, the peloton will join the local circuit of Zurich, to be covered seven times. This circuit, 27 kilometers long, will be punctuated by the repeated ascent of Witikon (1.9 km at 6.3%). However, the last passage at the top of this hill will take place just 20 kilometers from the finish, suggesting an explosive and tactical finale. This particularly selective profile should benefit punchers capable of combining power and endurance to win. Departure from Winterthur at 10:30 a.m. Sunday September 29 / Arrival scheduled around 5 p.m.
Read also: Those entered in the Zurich Worlds and the favorites
Route details and weather conditions
We saw this throughout the week with the youth races and the time trials, certain relatively technical descents, the impact of the weather and the “confidence” provided by knowing the circuit, can lead to risk-taking greater than usual and therefore falls. These data are obviously to be taken into account for the favorites and outsiders, although the forecasts seem good for the duration of the Elite race. The first part online, between Winterthur and the final circuit, quite hilly including the Kyburg coast, could give ideas to a fairly large group of escapees but the difficulty of the final loops should overwhelm their ambitions.
Key points to remember :
Distance totale : 273,9 km
Elevation gain : 4 470 m
Circuit local de Zurich : 27 km to be covered 7 times
Recurring coast : Witicon (1.9 miles to 6.3%)
Final : Very selective, favoring punchers-rollers
Elite Men race route map
Profile of the Elite Men race: (273.9km / 4470m D+)
With 69km in line, as a “warm-up” then 7 passages on the final circuit around Zurich, the peloton will have time to mature or adapt a strategy for the last lap(s). The Witikon climb (1.9km at 6.2%), to be crossed 7 times, should be the justice of the peace for this edition. Other small difficulties of around 500 meters each will make the race tougher but should not be decisive in the race for the rainbow jersey. The main descent of the circuit and the small descent just before the finish can also be important in the event of an error in trajectories due to lack of lucidity.
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