Züri Metzgete returns as women's race

The Züri Metzgete will be held again in 2008, but in an entirely different format. The former Championship of Zürich ProTour race will be held as a women's and "everyman's" race this autumn, race organisers announced Wednesday at a press conference in Zürich, Switzerland.

The ProTour race had been cancelled last year due to financial problems and the lack of a main sponsor. Now, organisers have found a new backer, the regional electricity supplier 'Elektrizitätswerk des Kantons Zürich' (EKZ), and will present the EKZ Züri Metzgete on September 7.

The women's race will cover 104 km, which will be two times around the circuit course. Each lap will have 600 climbing meters. It is expected to attract the top three Swiss women's teams, Raleigh Lifeforce, Bigla and Specialized, and such top Swiss riders as Karin Thürig, Nicole Brändli and Sereina Trachsel.