Thomas Frischknecht

Last updated
Thomas Frischknecht
Thomas Frischknecht 1996.jpg
Frischknecht in 1996
Personal information
Full nameThomas Frischknecht
NicknameFrischi
Born (1970-02-17) 17 February 1970 (age 54)
Feldbach, Switzerland
Height1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight69 kg (152 lb)
Team information
Current teamRetired
Discipline
RoleRider
Professional teams
1990–2000Ritchey
2001–2008Swisspower
Major wins
Cyclo-cross
National Championships (1997, 1999, 2002)
World Cup
1 individual win (1998–99)
Mountain bike
World XC Championships (1996)
World Marathon Championships (2003, 2005)
National XC Championships (1994, 1996–1998)
XC World Cup (1992, 1993, 1995)
17 individual wins (1992–1999, 2001)

Thomas Frischknecht (born 17 February 1970 in Feldbach, Switzerland) is a former Swiss mountain bike and cyclo-cross racer, often called Europe's Elder Statesman of mountain biking, [1] because of his extraordinarily long career at the top level of the sport. A professional since 1990, he was on top of the Mountain Bike World Championship podium for the first time in 1996 and most recently in 2004. [2]

Contents

Biography

Frischi (as he is called) advocates staying 'fit for life' and dope free racing. He is considered an excellent example of a clean sportsman. [1] [3]

In 1996 he was second at the World Cross-country Mountain Bike Championships, but after France's Jérôme Chiotti confessed having used EPO when he won the title that year, he got the rainbow jersey from Chiotti, handed over as a friendly act in an unofficial ceremony. [4]

He won the Olympic silver medal in 1996. The next day he competed in the men's road race on a Ritchey cyclocross bike after fellow Swiss team member Tony Rominger fell ill. He finished the race in the middle of the pack. [5]

Frischknecht also competes in cyclo-cross, where he won an Amateur World Champion title, was Vice World Champion in 1997 and is a multiple-time Swiss Champion. [6]

Thomas first traveled to America in 1990 to compete in the then new genre of mountain biking. He became closely linked to Tom Ritchey, a major bike-components producer, who provided support and became a mentor and a good friend. Ritchey has sponsored him ever since. Ritchey's Swiss Cross frame draws its name from Fischknecht. Other major sponsors include Swisspower, an electric utility consortium, and Scott bicycles.

Frischknecht was author of a book on mountain biking, Richtig Mountainbiken. He is currently involved with the Frischi Bike School in the Engadin/St. Moritz area of Switzerland.

Major results

Mountain bike

1990
2nd Silver medal uci.svg Cross-country, UCI World Championships
2nd Overall XC World Cup
1991
2nd Silver medal uci.svg Cross-country, UCI World Championships
3rd Bronze medal europe.svg Cross-country, UEC European Championships
1992
1st Jersey white.svg Overall XC World Cup
1st Mont-Sainte-Anne
1st Landgraaf
1st Strathpeffer
1st Mount Snow
2nd Hunter Mountain
2nd Silver medal uci.svg Cross-country, UCI World Championships
1993
1st UEC Champion Jersey.svg Cross-country, UEC European Championships
1st Jersey white.svg Overall XC World Cup
1st Barcelona
1st Mount Snow
2nd Bassano del Grappa
2nd Mont-Sainte-Anne
3rd Bromont
1994
1st MaillotSuiza.PNG Cross-country, National Championships
UCI XC World Cup
1st Mount Snow
1st Mont-Sainte-Anne
2nd Madrid
3rd Lenzerheide
1995
1st Jersey white.svg Overall XC World Cup
1st Vail
1st Mammoth Lakes
2nd Houffalize
3rd Cairns
3rd Budapest
1996
1st Jersey rainbow.svg Cross-country, UCI World Championships
1st MaillotSuiza.PNG Cross-country, National Championships
2nd Overall UCI XC World Cup
1st Lisbon
1st Sankt Wendel
1st Kualoa Ranch
2nd Mount Helen
3rd Bromont
2nd Silver medal olympic.svg Cross-country, Olympic Games
2nd Overall XC World Cup
1997
1st MaillotSuiza.PNG Cross-country, National Championships
UCI XC World Cup
1st Sankt Wendel
1998
1st MaillotSuiza.PNG Cross-country, National Championships
UCI XC World Cup
1st Budapest
3rd Napa Valley
3rd Bronze medal europe.svg Cross-country, UEC European Championships
1999
UCI XC World Cup
1st Canmore
2000
UCI XC World Cup
2nd Lausanne
2001
UCI XC World Cup
1st Kaprun
2nd Silver medal uci.svg Cross-country, UCI World Championships
2002
2nd Cross-country, National Championships
3rd Bronze medal uci.svg Cross-country, UCI World Championships
3rd Overall XC World Cup
2003
1st Jersey rainbow.svg Marathon, UCI World Championships
UCI XC World Cup
2nd Kaprun
2004
3rd Bronze medal uci.svg Cross-country, UCI World Championships
2005
1st Jersey rainbow.svg Marathon, UCI World Championships
2nd Cross-country, National Championships
2017
1st Jersey green Cape Epic.svg Overall Mixed Cape Epic (with Jenny Rissveds)

Cyclo-cross

1987–1988
1st Jersey rainbow.svg UCI World Junior Championships
1989–1990
Superprestige
1st Rome
3rd Zürich-Waid
1st Eschenbach
3rd Bronze medal uci.svg UCI World Amateur Championships
1990–1991
1st Jersey rainbow.svg UCI World Amateur Championships
1st Meilen
Superprestige
2nd Zarautz
2nd Wetzikon
3rd Rome
3rd Overijse
2nd Eschenbach
2nd Steinmaur
1991–1992
Superprestige
1st Overijse
1st Wetzikon
2nd Zarautz
3rd Harnes
1st Berlin
2nd Volketswil
2nd Muntelier
2nd Vossem
3rd Bronze medal uci.svg UCI World Amateur Championships
3rd Eschenbach
3rd Leeds
1992–1993
2nd Overall Superprestige
1st Rome
2nd Plzeň
2nd Zarautz
2nd Overijse
2nd Asper-Gavere
2nd Zillebeke
1st Sankt-Gallen
1st Berlin
1st Liestal
1st Lyss
1st Gansingen
1st Dagmersellen
1st Solbiate Olona
2nd National Championships
2nd Brouilly
2nd Meilen
3rd Zürich
1993–1994
3rd Overall Superprestige
1st Asper-Gavere
1st Wetzikon
2nd Diegem
2nd Milan
2nd Westouter-Zillebeke
1st Berlin
2nd National Championships
2nd Sankt-Gallen
3rd Hombrechtikon
1994–1995
1st Dagmersellen
2nd Hombrechtikon
1995–1996
2nd Solbiate Olona
2nd Volketswil
2nd Sankt-Gallen
3rd National Championships
3rd Langenthal
3rd Dagmersellen
3rd Hombrechtikon
3rd Liestal
UCI World Cup
5th Pontchâteau
1996–1997
1st MaillotSuiza.PNG National Championships
1st Gansingen
2nd Silver medal uci.svg UCI World Championships
Superprestige
2nd Wetzikon
2nd Sankt-Gallen
2nd Uster
UCI World Cup
3rd Heerlen
4th Koksijde
4th Nommay
3rd Meilen
3rd Hombrechtikon
1997–1998
2nd Magstadt
2nd Volketswil
3rd National Championships
UCI World Cup
4th Solbiate Olona
1998–1999
1st MaillotSuiza.PNG National Championships
UCI World Cup
1st Zeddam
4th Nommay
1st Hombrechtikon
1st Meilen
1st Magstadt
2nd Rüti
3rd Uster
5th UCI World Championships
1999–2000
1st Liestal
1st Obergösgen
2nd National Championships
2nd Hittnau
2nd Hombrechtikon
2nd Dagmersellen
2000–2001
1st Magstadt
1st Safenwil
2nd Obergösgen
2nd Hombrechtikon
2001–2002
1st MaillotSuiza.PNG National Championships
1st Castelnuovo
1st Dagmersellen
2nd Obergösgen
2002–2003
1st Hittnau
1st Dagmersellen
1st Hombrechtikon
1st Rennen Russikon
2nd Meilen
2nd Zürich
3rd Frenkendorf
2003–2004
2nd National Championships
2nd Magstadt
2nd Frenkendorf
2nd Hittnau
2nd Rüti
2nd Steinmaur
3rd Uster
2004–2005
1st San Mateo I
1st San Mateo II
2nd Steinmaur
3rd Sint-Niklaas
3rd Rüti
3rd Dagmersellen
2005–2006
1st Magstadt
2nd Steinmaur
2006–2007
2nd Frenkendorf
2nd Rüti
3rd Dagmersellen
3rd Dübendorf
2007–2008
2nd National Championships
2nd Dagmersellen
2nd Dübendorf
3rd Schmerikon
2008–2009
1st Steinmaur

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hanka Kupfernagel</span> German cyclist (born 1974)

Hanka Kupfernagel is a retired German professional cycle racer. During most of her career her primary focus was cyclo-cross racing, however, she has also won major road, track and mountain bike races. She has won seven consecutive medals at the UCI Women's Cyclo-cross World Championships, including three gold medals for 2000, 2001 and 2005; two silver medals in 2002 and 2003; and the bronze medal in 2004. Her major career victories also include a gold medal in the individual time trial competition at the 2007 UCI Road World Championships in Stuttgart and a silver medal in the road race at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Groenendaal</span> Dutch former cyclist

Richard Marinus Anthonius Groenendaal is a Dutch former professional cyclo-cross cyclist. Groenendaal won the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in 2000 and the overall titles in the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup 1997–1998, 2000–2001 and 2003–2004 and in the Cyclo-cross Superprestige in 1997–1998 and 2000–2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erwin Vervecken</span> Belgian cyclist

Erwin Vervecken is a Belgian former professional cyclist specialising in cyclo-cross. Vervecken was professional cyclist for 16 seasons (1995–2010) and works since his retirement as an external sportive consultant for sportmarketing company Golazo where he helps organize cyclocross and mountainbike races and does the coordination of the UCI Gran Fondo World Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adri van der Poel</span> Dutch cyclist (born 1959)

Adri van der Poel is a retired Dutch cyclist. Van der Poel was a professional from 1981 to 2000. His biggest wins included six classics, two stages of the Tour de France and the World Cyclo-Cross Championships in 1996. He also obtained the second place and silver medal in the World Road Championships in 1983 behind Greg LeMond and five second places in the World Cyclo-Cross championships. The Grand Prix Adrie van der Poel is named after him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Pauwels</span> Belgian cyclist

Kevin Pauwels is a Belgian former professional racing cyclist, who rode professionally between 2004 and 2019 for the Fidea and Pauwels Sauzen–Bingoal teams. Pauwels retired on 24 February 2019 after winning the Sluitingsprijs Oostmalle.

Christian Heule is a Swiss professional racing cyclist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florian Vogel (cyclist)</span> Swiss cyclist

Florian Vogel is a Swiss professional racing cyclist. He competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics and the 2012 Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caroline Alexander</span> Scottish cyclist

Caroline Sarah J. Alexander is a cross-country mountain biker and road cyclist born in Barrow-in-Furness. She was a swimmer as a child and did not cycle until she was 20. She first rode a bike in competition in a triathlon: she came second in the swimming and was fastest on the bike. She entered her first mountain bike race, which she won. Within a year she was one of the top three mountain-bike racers in the UK. She left her job as a draughtswoman in Barrow shipyards and became a full-time cyclist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eva Lechner</span> Italian cyclist (born 1985)

Eva Lechner is an Italian multi-discipline cyclist, who has won at least one national title in cyclo-cross, road bicycle racing and mountain bike racing. She won the team relay at the 2012 Mountain bike World Championships together with Luca Braidot, Marco Aurelio Fontana and Beltain Schmid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marco Aurelio Fontana</span> Italian cyclist (born 1984)

Marco Aurelio Fontana is an Italian former professional racing cyclist. He won the bronze medal in the cross-country mountain bike race at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julien Taramarcaz</span> Swiss cyclist

Julien Taramarcaz is a former professional cyclo-cross and road cyclist from Switzerland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lars Forster</span> Swiss cyclist and mountain biker

Lars Forster is a Swiss cyclo-cross and cross-country mountain biker. He represented his nation in the men's elite race at the 2016 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Heusden-Zolder, and in the men's cross-country race at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He was on the start list for the 2018 Cross-country European Championship and he finished 1st.

Luca Bramati is an Italian former cyclo-cross and cross-country mountain bike cyclist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andri Frischknecht</span> Swiss cross-country mountain biker (born 1994)

Andri Frischknecht is a Swiss cross-country mountain biker. He is the son of Thomas Frischknecht, and the grandson of Peter Frischknecht, who were also professional cyclists.

Beat Wabel is a Swiss former professional cyclist. He competed in the men's cross-country mountain biking event at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Timon Rüegg is a Swiss road and cyclo-cross cyclist, who currently rides for UCI Cyclo-cross Pro Team Heizomat Radteam p/b Kloster Kitchen.

Loris Rouiller is a Swiss cyclist, who currently rides for UCI Cyclo-cross team Heizomat Radteam p/b Kloster Kitchen and amateur team Elite Fondations Cycling Team in road cycling. He primarily competes in cyclo-cross, but also on the road and in mountain biking.

Jiří Pospíšil is a Czech former professional cyclo-cross cyclist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicole Koller</span> Swiss cyclist (born 1997)

Nicole Koller is a Swiss professional racing cyclist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dario Lillo</span> Swiss cyclist

Dario Lillo is a Swiss cyclist, who currently rides for UCI Continental team Q36.5 Continental Team.

References

  1. 1 2 "Thomas Frischknecht". Mountain Bike Hall of Fame. 1999. Archived from the original on 30 June 2006. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  2. "Men, Mountain Bike World Cup". UCI. Retrieved July 25, 2006.
  3. "Doping statement". Frischknecht's home page. Archived from the original on March 18, 2005. Retrieved July 25, 2006.
  4. "News for May 25, 2000: Chiotti hands it back". Cycling News. May 25, 2000. Retrieved July 25, 2006.
  5. "Interview: Thomas Frischknecht". Bike Radar. August 12, 2008. Retrieved July 25, 2008.
  6. "CycloX World Cup: Coupe du Monde - 1998-1999". Union Cycliste Internationale. January 3, 1999. Retrieved July 25, 2006.
Olympic Games
Preceded by Flagbearer for Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
Sydney 2000
Succeeded by