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Züri Metzgete, Switzerland

2 October, 242K

Swiss One-Day Classic

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Startlist
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Report and Results

The 92nd Züri Metzgete (or The Championship of Zurich) is the last of three ProTour races on the calendar for 2005. This year the Swiss race has a later slot on the calendar, following the World Championships by only one week. That means that the race will be an opportune time for the new world champion to show off his stripes.

The course consists of 5 loops that start and end in the city of Zurich. The first is a large 71.0K loop, followed by four shorter 41.4K loops. It is on the smaller final loops where the riders will encounter the race's principal danger, the Pfannenstiel climb. The Pfannenstiel tops out with 17K to go, making it a perfect place to attack and stay clear. The smaller Wetzwil climb follows 3K later, and should finalize the deal for the strong men. Although this was not quite the case last year, when the attacking group was reeled back in and there was a small bunch sprint.

The race is a classic in its own right. It has been run 91 times it has earned the reputation of a tough-man's race. Past winners are considered champions: Bettini, Rebellin, Bartoli, Museeuw, Fondriest, Anderson, De Vlaeminck, etc. As with many races in the fall, this race will play a deciding factor in a season long competition, prior the World Cup, and now the ProTour. Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas-Bianchi) seeks to solidify his ProTour lead with a possible victory.

Recent Winners:
2004 Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa)
2003 Daniele Nardello (Ita)
2002 Dario Frigo (Ita)
2001 Paolo Bettini (Ita)
2000 Laurent Dufaux (Swi)
1999 Grzegorz Gwiazdowski (Pol)
1998 Michele Bartoli (Ita)
1997 Davide Rebellin (Ita)
1996 Andrea Ferrigato (Ita)
1995 Johan Museeuw (Bel)
1994 Gianluca Bortolami (Ita)
1993 Maurizio Fondriest (Ita)
1992 Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus)
1991 Johan Museeuw (Bel)
1990 Charly Mottet (Fra)
1989 Steve Bauer (Can)
1988 Steven Rooks (Ned)
1987 Rolf Gölz (Ger)
1986 Acacio da Silva (Por)
1985 Ludo Peeters (Bel)
1984 Phil Anderson (Aus)
1983 Johan van de Velde (Ned)
1982 Adri van der Poel (Ned)
1981 Beat Breu (Swi)
1980 Gery Verlinden (Bel)