Tourism, business, traffic: The city of Zurich takes stock after the 2024 World Cycling Championships.
It should have been a cycling festival full of euphoria, but the death of the young cyclist Muriel Furrer overshadowed the World Cycling Championships in Zurich. While the public prosecutor’s investigation into the tragic accident is still ongoing, Zurich is taking stock after the World Cup.
Legend:
On Friday it was announced that the young racing driver Muriel Furrer died after her fall. Nevertheless, the races continued, after consultation with the family.
Keystone / Ennio Leanza
Traders in Zurich’s Seefeld in particular had already criticized the major traffic restrictions in advance. If you asked around during the races, the verdict was clear: fewer customers, less sales.
A large part of the sales was lost
Susanna Gasche, for example, who runs the “Herzlich” jewelry store, had to cope with around two-thirds less sales. The traditional shop “Chäslaube Riesbach” is right nearby – one of their main sources of income is catering, which was completely eliminated due to the barriers.
Legend:
Many shops closed completely during the World Cycling Championships, others suffered a decline in sales
Keystone / Ennio Leanza
The carpentry company “Ernst Wieland” actually had to take company holidays or send part of its workforce on vacation because there was much less work: “We were actually faced with a fait accompli,” says Enrico Wieland, who runs the business in the fifth generation.
Meanwhile, Olivier Perrin, who runs a lamp shop in Seefeld, has completely closed down. “No bone comes to Seefeld – how can it?” Instead, he went on vacation to Ticino.
“The traffic regime worked”
The traffic department of the city of Zurich was generally satisfied with the traffic management during the major event, says spokeswoman Nadja Häberli: “However, there was a traffic jam at times – and the traffic service employees had to endure harsh reactions.” Many drivers got lost, especially in the area of the luxury hotel Dolder. Especially those who were looking for a way on their own. Because the only access to the city was over the Fork. What was also of little help was that the route guidance didn’t work correctly on Google Maps, of all things. The fact that an entire district was cut off from traffic demanded more from the traffic department than any previous major event in Zurich, says Nadja Häberli. That’s why the employees are now looking forward to quieter days.
In summary, Dominique Zygmont, managing director of the City Association of Zurich, says: “Our balance sheet is negative. “We have a decline in sales of minus 20 percent.” The businesses in Seefeld would not have been able to take advantage of being so close to the action: “For many restaurateurs, things were going very badly because the fans didn’t stop by them.”
Legend:
Hardly any walk-in customers in Zurich’s Seefeldstrasse on a rainy day during the World Cycling Championships
SRF / Peter Schürmann
In the future, Zygmont wants to have an earlier say about which events should take place in public spaces in Zurich and how they should be handled. A new strategy is needed to bring those directly affected to the table early on.
A September like any other
The Zurich hotel industry also did not benefit particularly from the major event. “There were individual hotels that accepted larger groups, but overall for us it was a September like any other,” says Michael Böhler, President of the Zurich Hotel Association.
Legend:
Hotel operators and restaurateurs would have liked more guests from outside the country during the World Cycling Championships
SRF / Peter Schürmann
The hotel operators had hoped for more. Böhler is now counting on the long-term advertising effect of the World Cycling Championships: “We hope that the great pictures that have gone out into the world will bring new visitors to the city.”
“Foreign teams were very enthusiastic”
The city of Zurich’s sports director Filippo Leutenegger (FDP) also draws a mixed conclusion: “The event was excellently organized, but it lasted too long.” The city council says the fact that the severe restrictions applied for nine days provoked resistance. The stress during the working week in particular was underestimated. Nevertheless, there are also positive things: “The foreign teams in particular were enthusiastic about the impeccable organization here in Zurich.”
Legend:
Great weather attracted a large crowd to the race track in Zurich on the last Sunday of the World Championship
Keystone / Michael Buholzer
The next major sporting event is already around the corner with the Women’s European Championship in summer 2025. But not nearly as many restrictions are planned, says Filippo Leutenegger.
