Oerlikon Race track

The bicycle began its triumphal march at the end of the 19th century, and bicycle races, which enjoyed growing popularity, were held everywhere. The competitions were held on the streets, but also on oval race tracks. Switzerland, especially Zurich, was far ahead in these early days. As early as 1900, bicycle enthusiasts had a natural track in Hardau. When this area was converted into a gravel pit, a group of wealthy business people decided to build a new track in Oerlikon.

International appeal

The open-air racetrack was opened in August 1912 after a construction period of five months. The concrete oval is 333.3 meters in circumference. The racetrack, an architectural beauty, soon became the venue for sporting events of international renown. Seven track cycling world championships were held here, more than at the famous and now demolished Vélodrome d'Hiver in Paris. In the forties and fifties, Oscar Plattner, Ferdy Kübler, Hugo Koblet and Walter Bucher were the stars of the track, sparking a real cycling craze. They have been followed by worthy successors in the form of Robert Dill-Bundi, Urs Freuler, Max Hürzeler, Kurt Betschart, Bruno Risi, Alexander Aeschbach and Franco Marvulli.
The open-air track has one major disadvantage: as soon as it rains, the risk of crashing increases dramatically on the steep bends with gradients of over 40 degrees. If it starts to drizzle, the race has to be stopped immediately. With the increase in professionalism and financial obligations, it is no longer possible in modern sports to let St. Peter interfere with the event calendar. In 1939, the construction of the Hallenstadion, including a covered race track, in Oerlikon marked a second pioneering achievement. Less glorious, difficult times lie ahead for the previous building – in the shadow of the weatherproof Hallenstadion, which, unlike the open-air track, does not have to rely solely on racing for its survival. Over the decades, the attractiveness of spectacular track racing – whether outdoors or indoors – diminished in the eyes of contemporaries. They watched the sport at home on television, and since the abolition of the police hour, there was no longer any need to travel to Oerlikon for the six-day race.
The concrete oval often changes hands; it is sold to speculators, teetering back and forth between success and bankruptcy. In 1951, the city of Zurich takes over the child and doesn't know what to do with it. City governments regularly lack magistrates who have a connection to cycling, so they consider plans to convert the open-air racetrack into an ice hockey stadium, to integrate it into a polysportive complex or simply to demolish it. But year after year, the building fabric is deemed solid by the responsible officials, and the operating license is repeatedly extended. Rumors of danger of collapse, apparently circulating in the highest government circles, prove to be unfounded.

Social events

The concrete is solid, and a troop of undaunted people has been holding out solidly since 2002. They not only remain loyal to track cycling at this historic location, but are also willing to do voluntary work to maintain it. The troop is called IGOR (Interessengemeinschaft offene Rennbahn), and it is not just defending a relic of the past, but opening a window to the future. Since 2003, IGOR has organized races every Tuesday evening from the beginning of May to the end of September. 600 to 800 fans make the pilgrimage to the evening races, where they can get to know the various track disciplines, and the trend is rising. Tuesday and Thursday evenings at the racetrack and in the “Rennbahnstübli” with the small garden restaurant are on the verge of achieving cult status. The IGOR club skillfully combines the sporty with the convivial, creating a lobby that the racecourse urgently needs. The racecourse is not a purist's paradise, but also allows military bikes, historic racing cars, inline skaters and Harley-Davidsons to do their laps. In addition to the spectacular stayer races, it is precisely these motorsport events that attract the largest audiences to the velodrome.
The Velodrome is more than just a sports venue (incidentally, it is the oldest in Switzerland that is still in use), but also an architectural rarity. It is a contemporary witness, representing a specific, unique and rich culture that is only now being reappraised and presented in book form in 2012, for the 100th anniversary. The city of Zurich has also given it a break: the planned development of the area with a polysportive hall has been postponed for financial reasons. IGOR President Alois Iten would prefer the city to abandon the demolition altogether.

Top-level sport and taster training

The Swiss Cycling Association has long since recognized the value of the open-air track. Cycling coaches are convinced that a complete racing cyclist, a strong cyclist, must feel just as at home on the track as on the road. That is why intensive training takes place in Aigle in winter and in Oerlikon in summer, and without this opportunity, the international successes of Swiss track cyclists would be inconceivable.
But ordinary cyclists don't have to just admire the track stars. Provided they have reasonable racing bike skills, they can rent a track bike, do a taster course and then take their first laps, discovering a new, oval cycling world.

Text: Velojournal
Photos: Baugeschichtliches Archiv der Stadt Zürich