It is not cheap to stay and race in Zurich but that does not make it poor value. 

The organisation is first class. 

The city and race venue spectacular 

The journey easy (we drove from Cheltenham) 

The course not easy but not IM Wales 

The run in the city centre 

The people friendly and helpful 

The whole vibe is relaxed 

The race standard high 

An unusual (these days) one lap swim 

We will be going back. 

Open roads but you’d hardly know 

Glass like smooth roads. 

I have raced lots of races and this is the one I’d recommend the most. 

Having had my race transferred from IM Melbourne (due to F1!!) the 20th Anniversary IM in Zurich didnt disapoint. With a new 'city' run course and the famous Beast and Heart Break Hill the climbs were hard but strangely enjoyable with fantastic views of the lake. The roadside support was plentiful and in some places even the villagers were out with hoses cooling you down and boy did you need it.... 80 Deg!!  Hats off to Nico for putting on a well organised and stress free IM Zurich.

Brilliant race to do as a first timer!! The race village is just outside the main town but within 20min walking distance and right by a train and tram stop. Public transport in Zurich is excellent so it's easy to get to. No need to stay in the expensive city centre hotels if you don't want to.

Rolling swim start meant no terrifying mass start! However the heat in Zurich in the summer makes a non wetsuit swim a distinct possibility.

The bike course is beautiful: lots of support, especially on Heartbreak Hill. There are a couple of steep and long decsents so you need to be confident going downhill on your bike.

The run is great: a lot of it is through the old town or along the lake so it's really interactive with lots of support from locals. The route is flat and all on pavement.

The only negative would be the cost of living in Switzerland which makes the race and staying in Zurich fairly expensive!!

My first full ironman. As always with an ironman brand race I find the organisation and volunteers faultless. The swim in lake Zurich is one loop with a rolling swim start, beautiful clear lake with plenty of chances to swim in it before race day as you can dive in pretty much anywhere along its shores.

The bike course mainly goes along the eastern side of the lake. It's stunning scenery. But if it rains some of the descents could be very treacherous. Flat 30km TT and then an undulating/hilly section before going back into town and hitting heartbreak hill where the support is phenomenal. Elsewhere on the bike there are random pockets of people supporting and loads of locals came out. Great support.

Run course this year was a new one through the old city, really good 4 laps. Again, lots of support from people just sitting around in the sun in the cafes etc. 

Only downside is Zurich is expensive and the exchange rate is shocking with the British pound!

Just saw that this race only got a 3.5 rating so thought I would send in my thoughts.

True the Pasta party was terrible but the organisation was very good and they created a great atmosphere on race day.

The Lake swim was great fun with an Australian exit over a small island.

2 laps on the bike course with a fast section along the lake shore and then some short sharp climbs in hte hills around Zurich.

4 lap run along the lake shore with lots of support.

I have done the race in 2008 and seen the same another couple of years. The race is nice, nothing really different from many other. The transition zone is the worse ever seen located on a grass (imagine when it rains as of happens in Switzerland), no changing tent and everything near the bike with such a small space that you can not even have 50cm for you.

Swim can be difficult in a lake where some wind and waves can appear. Bike course is "boring" and draft very bad controlled especially in the first 40 flat kms. Run is not fast bbut not boring. Goody bag (finisher shirt and medal) very low level.