Preparations for the "Swiss Epic" 2020 are in full swing - but in a completely different way than planned. "We are all working from home, currently on short-time working. Fortunately, working from home was not new territory for us and the technical requirements were met right from the start," says Eichenberger, describing his current work situation. In everyday working life, however, the company is now practising a business balancing act. "Our aim is to continue the preparations as planned without incurring costs."

Working with unanswered questions

The preparations for the "Swiss Epic" 2020 are currently being determined by many unanswered questions. What will be allowed in August? Which nationalities will be able to travel? How will participants in the risk group be dealt with? What hygiene measures must or can be implemented? And what should be done if an athlete shows coronavirus symptoms during the race? The event management of the "Swiss Epic" is very busy with these and similar questions. These are all far-reaching aspects that were not on the agenda back in January.

One difficulty for the "Swiss Epic" is that the authorities have not yet issued any binding guidelines. "We expect clear statements from the federal government soon. However, we are aware that we will have to expand our existing protection and safety concepts and that the maximum number of participants will be limited," explains Eichenberger. He also assumes that events in Switzerland will generally be less international this summer due to the limited travel options.Sustainable changes in the event industry

All in all, according to Eichenberger, the coronavirus pandemic will lead to difficult situations in the event industry. "While many costs have already been incurred, income will only be generated once the event has been successfully held. In the worst-case scenario, two years' worth of costs will have to be covered with one year's income and from reserves," he explains. Because the virus will keep society busy for some time to come, there are also likely to be lasting changes in the event industry. "We will not be able to avoid adapting the event formats in order to continue to have answers to hygiene and social distancing requirements in the future," he explains.

Planning is currently very difficult for event organizations such as the "Swiss Epic" due to the numerous uncertainty factors. And yet Eichenberger exudes optimism. "We are well positioned and will make it through the crisis, not least thanks to the excellent cooperation with the Grisons destinations. However, the effects will be felt by us and the entire event industry for a long time to come. But we should not forget that such crises always offer opportunities!" It is currently difficult for event organizations to assess where these opportunities lie. Until then, Eichenberger's motto is: "We are planning for various scenarios and will do everything in our power to offer our athletes an unforgettable event."

The five-day "Swiss Epic" from Laax via Arosa to Davos is scheduled for August 18-22, 2020.