Bergrennen Gurnigel: News for the future

Shortly before the drastic measures to contain the Coronavirus, the Gurnigel Mountain Race Association was still able to hold its ordinary general meeting as planned. However, whether it will be able to hold its mountain race this year, which is on the calendar for the weekend of September 12/13, is no longer in the competence of the VBG.

Keyword major events
Only towards the end of May or beginning of June will the Federal Council decide and communicate how and from when larger events can be held. With well over 10,000 spectators in fine weather, the Gurnigel mountain race in the canton of Berne tends to be one of the major events.

Incidentally, the same applies to the Oberhallau hill climb planned two weeks earlier. The people of Schaffhausen have long since started with the preparatory work and want to postpone their decision as long as possible.

Only with as many spectators as possible
At VBG, they are currently running on the back burner. At best, they will be ramped up in the summer. The Bernese have set themselves a specific decision date.

OC President Theo Bertschi: "We will certainly wait until mid-June. To cover the costs, we need around 8,000 to 9,000 spectators over both days. If events are limited to only 1000 or maybe 5000 people even in September, then we have a problem. Because there are usually far more coming on Sunday when the weather is good."

Community of Riggisberg as a helper in need
At least, says Bertschi, things are not looking bad at the moment with the promise of sponsors. Many larger companies that support the mountain race can maintain their operations during the Corona crisis. In addition, there are several smaller loyal sponsors and patrons.

After the VBG had the worst weather luck of all Swiss race organizers last year, an enormous deficit resulted. Only thanks to a long-term loan from the municipality of Riggisberg, the popular race in the Gantrisch region is not threatened with extinction for the time being. However, there must not be one or two more rain races.

Theo Bertschi: "After the big financial loss last year, we will therefore not take any risk at all. Only if we can hold the race this September without risk, apart from the weather, will we stick to it in 2020."

New Presidium...
For Bertschi, it would be his farewell performance as OC and club president. The experienced event organizer and sports commissioner is stepping down at the end of the year for reasons of age and health, but will then continue to look after marketing for a while.

His successor will be Kurt Ruchti. As a farmer on the Las, the largest spectator area, he has been deeply rooted in the Gurnigelrennen for decades. Together, Bertschi and he will take over the co-presidency in 2020.

... and new race management
There is also a change in the race management. After the resignation of the deserving Peter Flückiger, it will be carried jointly by Silvio Gaffuri and Martin Guggisberg in the future. On the race weekend, they alternate annually in the main responsibility.

Gaffuri, represented by Guggisberg and Patric Remy, will start as Chief Race Director. The latter has been newly elected to the board together with André Dürig.

More driving time for all participants
There is also good news for the participants, whether they come to drive in a few months or not until next year. As in the years 2007 to 2010, if the schedule can be kept on Sunday, there will again be three race runs, also for the REG licensed.

Their program will therefore also be spread over two days, with the nationals being allowed to complete three training runs and the regionals two on Saturday. If this concept meets with approval, it will be retained.

gurnigelrennen.ch