I will try to be as objective as possible comparing the old and the new course. I am assuming there are no changes to the course in 2019.
The 10k first run is the same. It is a stout 2 loop course on pavement and trails with a major long climb right at the start. Pace yourself, don't burn too many matches on this first run. The race really starts on the third loop of the bike course. The 30k run can make or break your day.
My comments regarding the the new bike course are based on my age (mid 60's), experience with cycling 'hills' (I go to Colorado each summer for a week to ride, I have also done the Leadville MTB race leading up to the race) and my relative cycling strengths (I am better suited for flatter courses with wind but can climb and have no problem with descents). I have completed Zofingen 4 times and will be racing in 2019. I have used a Cervelo P3 TT bike in all times I have raced Zofingen. Also, I used a compact set up (50/33) in the last three of the four races with a 11-28 cassette. If you are younger, perhaps you can use a standard 53 or 52 chainring set up. For me, the compact set up helped with the climbs and to a degree saved my legs for the 30k run. I am debating on whether to bring a road bike with cheater bars for my 5th time given the nature of the new course.
Here I believe is a link to the first run:
https://www.gpsies.com/...uiug&language=en Here is a link to a Strava version of the one lap to the new course:
https://www.strava.com/routes/14727864 Here is another link depicting the new bike course:
https://veloviewer.com/routes/14728407 The official bike course is a 50k loop which is done three times in the race.
In a nutshell, I think the new bike course is more technical than the old course. The descents in the new course are on narrower farm roads that are not entirely smooth and have many turns. I found that I was on my cow horns for many of the descents (as opposed to the old course that had some long straight descents) due to bumpy narrow roads with limited vision of what is ahead. The first 15k is relatively flat and conducive to TT riding, then the climbs begin for about 3k; another segment of up and down short climbs with a long climb from about 21k to 32k; then another major climb from about 32 to the 36k mark. My brake levers on my TT bike are 3Ts and are not the best for feathering downhill segments. As I raced the new course, I often times thought perhaps a road bike with better handling and brakes would have been better than the TT set up. The pro's obviously had no problem descending on TT bikes on this new course. A short part of the new course goes through the cobblestone streets of the old town in Zofingen. If it rains the course could be slick. Otherwise it is just a bumpy ride, no problem riding the cobbles.
The second run, 30k run course, is a variation of the last two versions of the run in prior races. It is four loops. Part of the loop course goes through the old town on the cobblestone streets. It is very spectator friendly. The loop has two major climbs and since it is a loop, you run down the two climbs. There is a climb on a paved road / running path and a second long climb on a dirt trail (which you run down on the first 10k loop course). At this stage of the race, your quads will be talking to you on the descents.
As a newbie or someone who has done the old course, my recommendations/considerations:
1. Consider using compact (e.g. 50/33) chainrings to spin up the climbs, you won't loose much on the descents without a 53 or 53 chainring;
2. Light weight race wheels (I used 808s);
3. Light weight trail running shoes for the runs (there are long sections of trail on each run and if wet could impact traction);
4. If you can, practice running up and down long hills without injuring yourself, each run has long ascending and descending hills;
5. Run eight or so miles after a bike workout to get used to running on tired legs.
6. Dial in your nutrition - Consider taking hand ups (recovery drink bottles) on each bike loop to reduce the weight of liquids on the bike.
7. You will encounter folks drafting - europeans have a propensity for drafting. Try to avoid the packs. There is a shorter citizens race that starts after the long race and you may encounter the citizen racers on the second loop of the bike course.
Good luck with your training and look forward to seeing you in Switzerland!
Doing Du's since 1987.