Thomas Frischknecht, one of the most successful mountain bikers of all time, is going back to his roots. ‘Frischi’ began his career as a cyclocross pro in the early 90s, and will be competing in the first edition of the Tortour Cyclocross from 12 to 14 February 2016 in Schaffhausen – the first multi-day cyclocross and gravel stage race in the world. He will be teaming up with his son Andri, also an avid mountain biker and cyclocross racer.
Frischi has hardly been taking it easy – he’s one of the brains behind the Swiss Epic.
Thomas Frischknecht’s record of mountain bike achievements could hardly be any more impressive: The Swiss athlete won the World Cup three times (1992, 1993 and 1995), became cross-country World Champion in 1996 and Olympic silver medallist in Atlanta the same year, and was crowned Marathon World Champion in 2003 and 2005. He racked up a total of 18 world cup titles and 15 world championship medals. And yet, the current manager of the SCOTT-ODLO MTB Racing Team actually began his almost 20-year career as a cyclocross racer: he won the Junior Men’s race in the Cyclocross World Championships in 1988 at age 18, and became Amateur World Champion in 1991. He then gained two bronze medals at World Championships in the 1990s, and silver in 1997, marking the last Swiss World Championship medal to date.
Back to his cyclocross roots
By taking part in Tortour Cyclocross, Thomas Frischknecht, is basically going back to his roots: “My last two races as a professional cyclist in 2008 were cyclocross races – I even won that one in Steinmaur,” he explains. “I’ve hardly competed since then, but I still like to go out on my cyclocross bike in my spare time – or I should say my gravel bike, as they are called these days – especially in autumn and winter.” A “B-road race” in Piemont last June, however, made him hungry for more: “It was a great combination of gravel racing on side roads with culinary delights laid out in Italian village squares along the way – it was so much fun!” Having fun is, as well, his expressed goal for his participation in Tortour Cyclocross: “I’m going into this new type of ultra event without any ambitions. But I’m really pleased that a cyclocross event finally exists as a multi-day stage race – it’s a world premiere I just can’t miss!”
Frischi is at home on a ‘cross bike.
Serious competition from father and son team
Thomas will be taking part in Tortoue Cyclocross in a two-person team with his son Andri, U23 mountain biking Swiss Champion and U23 cyclocross Vice Swiss Champion. As a former marathon champion, Thomas has proved that endurance races are his forte. Plus, the former pro showed that he still has what it takes even at age 45 when he took part in the last two editions of the six-day mountain bike stage race Perskindol Swiss Epic, for which he also teamed up with Andri.
You can sign up until 31 January 2016 for the world premiere of Tortour Cyclocross, the first multi-day ultra cyclocross race in the world, taking place from 12 to 14 February 2016 in Schaffhausen. The new ultra-format covers a distance of 202 km and an elevation gain of 3,230 m across demanding terrain in challenging winter conditions. After a 13 km prologue on Friday, participants will have to overcome distances of 99 km on Saturday and 90 km on Sunday. The course leads through woodland, crosses meadows and fields, and includes few stretches on tarmacked roads. The participants will also have to reckon with obstacles including steps and tree trunks lying across the track. Cyclists can race solo or in teams of two or four, always keeping together.