Zurich City Triathlon (ZC3)

Zürich (Wollishofen, Landiwiese), Switzerland · June · Independent

Why people love it

Transition, finish and village sit together on Landiwiese beside Wollishofen station.
Flat bike loop around the lake basin, closed to traffic.
Rolling start in speed blocks of about 250 athletes.
Sprint has a 750 m (0.47 mi) swim and a 3 h cut-off, friendly for first races.
Zürich Airport is 13 km (8 mi) away, with direct trains.

Both distances sold out for 2027, so register early.
Late-June heat reached about 38 °C (100 °F) in 2026.
Wetsuit is optional from 15.9 to 22 °C (60.6 to 71.6 °F) and banned above 22 °C (72 °F).
Zurich hotels are expensive; stay near Wollishofen or on a train line.
Few athletes have written about the race, so details beyond the organiser are thin.

4.2Very good

How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 30% of the overall score.

Toughness: Easy

Racer satisfactionLoved3.9
Sold-out fields of over 4,000 for several years and warm sponsor recaps. No independent athlete reviews or forum threads. · Low confidence
OrganizationWell run3.9
Rolling start in 250-athlete blocks and closed roads, per the organiser. No complaints found, but evidence is thin. · Low confidence
First timer friendlyFriendly4.4
Short swim of 750 m (0.47 mi), any bike allowed, ability blocks and a 3 h cut-off. · Low confidence

PR potentialFast4.0
Flat, closed 20 km (12.4 mi) bike and flat 5 km (3.1 mi) run. · Low confidence

3.6Very good

Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.

Wetsuit legalCoin flip3.0
Optional from 15.9 to 22 °C (60.6 to 71.6 °F) and banned above 22 °C (72 °F). Late-June lake temperatures often sit near that line. · Low confidence
Water temperatureComfortable4.0
Water temperature is not published. Late-June Zürichsee is usually 19 to 24 °C (66 to 75 °F). · Low confidence
Calm waterMostly calm4.1
Sheltered lake basin. No chop or current reported. · Low confidence
Swim easeEasy4.4
750 m (0.47 mi) in one lap with a rolling start. · Low confidence
Swim experienceGreat3.8
Start from Saffa Island with the city and Alps behind. Water clarity is not documented. · Low confidence
Swim supportGood3.8
Rolling start in speed blocks, one lap near shore. Support details were not published. · Low confidence

4.3Very good

Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.

Road surfaceGood4.0
City lakeshore roads. No surface complaints found. · Low confidence
Road closuresFully closed4.5
Organiser FAQ says traffic is closed and marshalled, though pedestrians may cross. · Medium confidence
Bike sceneryBeautiful4.1
Lakeshore with Alps views toward Küsnacht. · Low confidence
WindMostly calm3.8
Sheltered lake basin and city. No wind issues reported. · Low confidence

Bike speedFast4.0
Flat, closed single lap. · Low confidence
Bike flatnessPancake flat4.5
One flat 20 km (12.4 mi) lap to Küsnacht. · Low confidence
Bike simplicityMostly simple3.6
Two laps through the city with turns. No technical sections reported. · Low confidence

4.2Very good

Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.

Crowd supportStrong3.9
City race with a village and finish party for over 4,000 athletes. No firsthand crowd reports. · Low confidence
Aid stationsGood3.7
Entry fee includes on-course refreshments. Little detail. · Low confidence
Run sceneryBeautiful4.2
Lakeside city run. · Low confidence
Run conditionsEasy3.6
5 km (3.1 mi) in heat is manageable. · Low confidence

3.1Good

Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.

Air temperatureWarm or cool2.9
Heat in 2025, and about 38 °C (100 °F) in 2026. · Medium confidence
Weather reliabilityVariable3.2
Heat risk and summer thunderstorms. The event now runs over two days. · Low confidence
Venue beautyLovely4.4
City, lake and Alps on Landiwiese. · Medium confidence
Spectator friendlyEasy4.4
City laps, with the village and finish all on Landiwiese near the station. · Medium confidence

4.3Very good

Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.

Hotel availabilityBook early3.2
A large city, but about 6,000 take part across the weekend. · Low confidence
Hotel valuePricey2.0
Zurich is one of Europe's most expensive hotel markets. · Low confidence
WalkabilityWalkable4.4
Transition, finish, village and swim start are on Landiwiese next to Wollishofen station. · Medium confidence
Travel easeVery easy4.8
Zürich Airport is 13 km (8 mi) away, with direct trains. · High confidence
LogisticsSimple3.8
One venue and one transition. Start blocks are sent by email; packet pickup details were not published. · Low confidence
Town and foodGreat4.6
Old town and lakefront, plus a food festival on site. · Medium confidence

Location: Zürich (Wollishofen, Landiwiese), Zürich, Switzerland
Typical month: June
Latest or next date: 27 June 2027
Organiser: Independent
Field size: About 1,150 athletes
First held: 2022
Distances: 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 20 km (12.4 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run
Cutoffs: Swim 50 min, Finish 3:00
Swim venue: Zürichsee (Lake Zurich), from Saffa Island to Landiwiese (lake)
Wetsuit: Optional (15.9-22 C / 60.6-71.6 F)
Swim start: rolling start in speed blocks of about 250 athletes, about 5 athletes every 10 seconds
Swim laps: 1
Bike laps: 1
Run laps: 1
Run shade: Lakeside trees in places; heat is the main risk
Air temperature: 16–30 °C (61–86 °F)
Altitude: 408 m (1,340 ft)
Nearest airport: Zürich Airport (ZRH), 13 km (8 mi) away
Where to stay: Wollishofen, Enge, Zürich HB
Booking: Zurich hotels are expensive; Wollishofen station is the recommended access (trains from the central station).

TrainerDay event listing: Zurich City TriathlonRaced 2025 · aggregator · Mixed
Calendar listing with scale details (over 5,000 triathletes in some years, entries sold out by January). Its course summary gives the swim as 2 km (1.2 mi), which conflicts with the 1.5 km (0.93 mi) on the organiser site and sponsor reports.
Organiser FAQ and course pages (not independent)Raced 2026 · article · Positive
Used only for facts. Rolling start in speed blocks of about 250 athletes, about five every 10 seconds; flat, traffic-closed circuit around the Zürich basin; no drafting; cut-offs 3 h sprint and 4 h Olympic; wetsuit optional between 15.9 and 22 °C (60.6 and 71.6 °F).

Raced Zurich City Triathlon (ZC3)? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.

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