Schurter is the fastest race organizer in Switzerland

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Suddenly you are in the old center of Chur. A whole group of Chinese mountain bikers quickly put their bikes against the houses and line up for a selfie photo with Nino Schurter (Saturday 37). The mountain bike celebrity laughs and, despite some communication problems, finds out that it is China’s national team.

What are the motorcycle exotics doing in Chur? On Sunday, like many other international cycling cracks, like Schurter himself of course, they ride the “ÖKK Bike Revolution” competition in preparation for the start of the World Championships in a week.

But what the race group from China hardly knows: with Schurter they not only met the great star of their sport. They also took selfies with one of the organizers of the Chur race.

The broom is symbolic – the collaboration is real

Because Schurter is Switzerland’s fastest race organizer. The end of his career is not yet in sight, this season he is also chasing World Cup records and World Cup medals: “I feel very good and I still love my sport!” But the world champion is not only joining the cycling revolution, Schurter is also participating.

Therefore, symbolically for Blick, he grabs a tool box and puts the broom on his shoulders. And that in the streets of Chur, where he races on Sunday on the circuit lined with 830 barriers.

On the circuit he designed through the old town and through the forest on the Mittenberg. Start and finish in the middle of a city of 40,000 inhabitants – quite unusual for the off-road division. “It’s cool to bring the sport to the people of the city,” says Schurter.

Graubünden is one of the four bosses of the racing class, which will also start in Tamaro TI, Engelberg OW, Davos GR and Huttwil BE in 2023. “I mainly work in an advisory capacity. I attend the meetings when decisions are made. And of course my name can also help when it comes to sponsoring,” says the Rio Olympic champion.

More prize money than in the World Cup

Why is there a need for another championship in the land of many cycling races? “We don’t just want to be a cycling race, but an event for the entire cycling community. In terms of size, we position ourselves just behind the World Cup,” says Schurter.

In one point even before the World Cup: the prize money. With a total bonus of CHF 160,000 for this season, the new Swiss racing series is more lucrative than the World Cup. “That should also be an international sign of what would actually be possible with the prize money.”

The prize money and the victory in Chur are not that important to Schurter. “I just want to get a good feel for the start of the World Cup.” In just one week at the start of the World Cup in the Czech Republic, Schurter can become immortal in another category: if he wins his 34th World Cup, he will be the sole record holder. “The World Cup is more important to me this season than maybe qualifying for my fifth Olympic Games,” says the man from Chur. And poses for a selfie again, even though the Chinese are gone again. This time it is an elderly tourist who recognized the champion.

Source : Blick