It’s 11:29 on Sunday, somewhere on an autobahn in Bavaria. The Zürich Four Day 2011 finished at 02:30 but it was around 03:45 before we got away from the track.
We parked up at 05:00 at a motorway services and rose at 10:15; we’re en route Düsseldorf, which will take us the best part of the day.
It’s all part of the game.
![Zürich Four Day 2011](https://www.veloveritas.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/16/zurich-four-day-days3and4/Zurich6_29.jpg)
I interviewed Germany’s Carsten Wolf yesterday, he was an individual and team pursuit star in the 80’s and a top six day man in the 90’s with four wins off 75 starts.
His highest total of sixes for one winter was 17 between October and February; he did that twice – including races in Colombia and Argentina.
I guess I shouldn’t complain about travelling, when I consider Carsten’s itinerary.
![Zürich Four Day 2011](https://www.veloveritas.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/16/zurich-four-day-days3and4/Zurich6_32.jpg)
Friday
Seems a long time ago now.
The 300 lap chase was a belter, with Keisse reminding us how much the Six Day circuit needs him.
![Zürich Four Day 2011](https://www.veloveritas.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/16/zurich-four-day-days3and4/Zurich6_12.jpg)
He always looks a million dollars, rides a cool machine and performs in spectacular fashion.
He uses the whole track; maybe not the best for economising on distance covered – but great if you’re watching him.
When he regained the string to take the winning lap he popped a wheelie that a BMX rider would have been proud of – at 50 kph plus.
![Zürich Four Day 2011](https://www.veloveritas.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/16/zurich-four-day-days3and4/Zurich6_18.jpg)
Franco wouldn’t like to read this, but he’s not at the same level he was in the ‘golden days’ with Bruno Risi – but he’s still one of the ‘heads’ – pairing with Iljo and racing in his hometown brought out the best in him.
![Zürich Four Day 2011](https://www.veloveritas.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/16/zurich-four-day-days3and4/Zurich6_11.jpg)
His win in Zürich is his fourth there, the three previous all being with King Bruno of Risi – a man we sorely miss at the races.
The sessions on Wednesday and Thursday finished at midnight but Friday went on ’til 02:30.
![Zürich Four Day 2011](https://www.veloveritas.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/16/zurich-four-day-days3and4/Zurich6_13.jpg)
There wasn’t really any additional pro racing, just that they added in another 125 lap stayer race and some truly dreadful sprinting.
I thought it was over-kill on the motor paced but Franco says there’s always been a big tradition of stayer racing in Zürich.
That being the case, I’d have shortened the races to maybe 80 laps; but the fans do lap up the finales – which take place at mad speeds.
Homeboy, Giuseppe Atzeni dominated the racing – very smooth with little upper body movement and calm under pressure.
![Zürich Four Day 2011](https://www.veloveritas.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/16/zurich-four-day-days3and4/Zurich6_21.jpg)
![Zürich Four Day 2011](https://www.veloveritas.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/16/zurich-four-day-days3and4/Zurich6_15.jpg)
One of the sprinters was a giant of a man, and sporting a beard – however, the only cyclist in the history of the world, ever, to get away with a beard was Fabio Baldato.
But this dude could give Fabio maybe six stones.
![Zürich Four Day 2011](https://www.veloveritas.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/16/zurich-four-day-days3and4/Zurich6_25.jpg)
I don’t think that the racing needs to go on ’til 2:00 am; in the ‘old days,’ Zürich was always notorious for the severity of the programme with racing going on until 05:00 am.
But as Franco explained to me, that was in the days before late opening bars and clubs – many of the spectators were bevie merchants in to enjoy a late night ‘swalay.’
When you’re back in the hotel and the clock says 03:45 it’s hard to get your head round – normally, I’d have been in bed for six hours.
![Zürich Four Day 2011](https://www.veloveritas.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/16/zurich-four-day-days3and4/Zurich6_17.jpg)
![Zürich Four Day 2011](https://www.veloveritas.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/16/zurich-four-day-days3and4/Zurich6_30.jpg)
Saturday
In line with “veritas” I have to say that the last chase wasn’t a great one – Friday’s was much better.
But the crowd got what they wanted, a home win with a Suisse in second place too – Silvan Dillier.
![Zürich Four Day 2011](https://www.veloveritas.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/16/zurich-four-day-days3and4/Zurich6_20.jpg)
Dillier usually rides with Claudio Imhof – they were strong in Ghent – but Imhof went down with a bad stomach and had to pull out.
They perm’d the teams and paired Dillier with Aussie Glenn O’Shea – a really rapid pairing, winning the flying lap on the last two nights.
![Zürich Four Day 2011](https://www.veloveritas.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/16/zurich-four-day-days3and4/Zurich6_24.jpg)
The final spot on the podium went to Robert Bartko and Danilo Hondo.
Bartko isn’t as much of a beast as he used to be and whilst Hondo is still the coolest man in the world – when you see him right after a hard chase, the wear and tear is beginning to show.
![Zürich Four Day 2011](https://www.veloveritas.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/16/zurich-four-day-days3and4/Zurich6_33.jpg)
I interviewed him at Ghent, last year and did my homework on him – the man has impressive palmares and oozes charisma. It would be hard to imagine young riders not giving Danilo respect.
![Zürich Four Day 2011](https://www.veloveritas.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/16/zurich-four-day-days3and4/Zurich6_35.jpg)
![Zürich Four Day 2011](https://www.veloveritas.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/16/zurich-four-day-days3and4/Zurich6_34.jpg)
It was another long night, with a double helping of big motors and more “sprinting.”
In Grenoble and Berlin they have sprint tournaments, but with the best riders both nations have – Bauge in Grenoble; Levy in Berlin.
Sprinting at that level is poles apart from cobbling together a few old, overweight guys and calling it a ‘tournament,’ as they do in here and in Copenhagen.
![Zürich Four Day 2011](https://www.veloveritas.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/16/zurich-four-day-days3and4/Zurich6_28.jpg)
![Zürich Four Day 2011](https://www.veloveritas.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/16/zurich-four-day-days3and4/Zurich6_14.jpg)
The promoter saves money, but the result is a mockery of a competition.
On the last two nights they also included a second U23 madison, late in the programme.
It’s fast and furious and crashes inevitable – there was an American duo riding; ‘I must have a chat with those lads,’ I thought to myself.
But they were in hospital before I got the opportunity.
![Zürich Four Day 2011](https://www.veloveritas.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/16/zurich-four-day-days3and4/Zurich6_22.jpg)
Sunday
And the four night formula?
Like Franco says; ‘four nights in Zürich; one night at the Revolution – it’s much better than nothing!’
![Zürich Four Day 2011](https://www.veloveritas.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/16/zurich-four-day-days3and4/Zurich6_23.jpg)
![Zürich Four Day 2011](https://www.veloveritas.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/16/zurich-four-day-days3and4/Zurich6_37.jpg)
![Zürich Four Day 2011](https://www.veloveritas.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/16/zurich-four-day-days3and4/Zurich6_40.jpg)
Zürich Four Day - Results
Standings after Night Three
2 Silvan Dillier/Glenn O’Shea (Swi/Aus) Lerch & Partner 191
3 Danilo Hondo/Robert Bartko (Ger) Samsung 176
4 Leif Lampater/Christian Grasmann (Ger) ewz 147
@ 1 lap
5 Tim Mertens/Kenny De Ketele (Bel) Haba 176
6 Danny Stam/Leon Van Bon (Ned) Rotronic 127
7 Marc Hester/Jasper Mørkøv (Den) Hotel Krone Unterstrass 102
@ 7 laps
8 Martin Hacecky/Vojtech Hacecky (Cze) Habegger 72
@ 8 laps
9 Bernard Oberholzer/Andreas Müller (Swi/Aut) Price 48
@ 13 laps
10 Robert Bengsch/Marcel Barth (Ger) Riposa 20
@ 18 laps
11 Alexander Aeschbach/Dominique Stark (Swi) Burkhalter Group 53
@ 20 laps
12 Dominik Stucki/Benjamin Edmüller (Swi/Ger) Elektro Material
Final Overall Standings
@ 1 lap
2 Silvan Dillier/Glenn O’Shea (Swi/Aus) Lerch & Partner 261
3 Danilo Hondo/Robert Bartko (Ger) Samsung 257
@ 2 laps
4 Leif Lampater/Christian Grasmann (Ger) ewz 217
@ 3 laps
5 Tim Mertens/Kenny De Ketele (Bel) Haba 227
@ 4 laps
6 Danny Stam/Leon Van Bon (Ned) Rotronic 174
7 Marc Hester/Jasper Mørkøv (Den) Hotel Krone Unterstrass 144
@ 12 laps
8 Martin Hacecky/Vojtech Hacecky (Cze) Habegger 84
@ 14 laps
9 Bernard Oberholzer/Andreas Müller (Swi/Aut) Price 86
@ 22 laps
10 Robert Bengsch/Marcel Barth (Ger) Riposa 35
@ 24 laps
11 Alexander Aeschbach/Dominique Stark (Swi) Burkhalter Group 79