With Keller, Flückiger, Forster and Albin into the future
The Swiss mountain bike team Thömus maxon is laying the foundations for a successful future and is entering the new season with a great deal of continuity and class. Team leader and world number 1 Alessandra Keller has signed a multi-year contract, as has Mathias Flückiger. The contract of the Olympic silver medallist even extends beyond the end of his active career. The cooperation with Lars Forster and Vital Albin has also been extended. Only Luke Wiedmann is leaving the team after four years.
Thömus maxon with team manager Ralph Näf is laying the foundations for further success in the future and long-term planning for the next Olympic cycle: “It’s great that we’ve managed to go into the future with four top-class athletes.” Näf, who will be entering his tenth season as team manager, is overjoyed and at the same time extremely motivated: “The fact that both Alessandra Keller and Mathias Flückiger have signed up for the long term is proof of the successful and collaborative partnership between team management, staff, athletes and partners.”
Flückiger’s contract extends beyond the end of his career
Mathias Flückiger, who wants to regain his old consistency and strength after two extremely challenging years, is also starting to plan for the time after his professional sporting career with the newly signed contract. This is despite the fact that Flückiger has no intention of hanging up his bike just yet: “The 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles are my long-term goal.” It remains to be seen how long Flückiger will remain active in the saddle. What is clear, however, is that his contract extends beyond his time as a professional athlete: “I’ve been working with Ralph, the Thömus brand and all other partners for a long time. We have grown together, we are successful together. This collaboration will continue after my active career,” says Flückiger, looking back and looking to the future.
Keller: “Not a single reason to change teams”
Alessandra Keller has been working with Ralph Näf, his team and his partners since 2016. More years together will follow: “I didn’t see a single reason why I should have considered changing teams. The construct with the team management, the team composition and the partners is perfect. I am convinced that I can reach my maximum potential at Thömus maxon in the long term,” says Keller, explaining her reasons for continuing to compete in the colors of Thömus maxon. Even after eight years of working together, the two-time overall double World Cup winner still sees room for improvement: “We still have room for improvement in many small areas. As each individual team member is constantly working on themselves and always wants to to become better, we will continue to take further steps upwards in the future.”
Lars Forster’s regained self-confidence
Two-time European champion and two-time World Cup winner Lars Forster signs a contract for another two years. “This contract and the belief in me is the basis for further success. Over the last two years at Thömus maxon, I’ve been able to regain my consistency and deliver my performance throughout the year. We will build on this in 2025.” Forster is particularly looking forward to the home World Championships in Valais in 2025 and the World Cup in Lenzerheide just one week later – the two biggest season highlights at the very end of the season.
Seventh season with Vital Albin
Vital Albin is the fourth rider in the Thömus maxon quartet for the coming season. A member of the team since 2019, Albin experienced several setbacks last year after making steady progress: “2024 was pretty difficult. First I had to recover from overtraining, then I had some health problems.” Albin is therefore all the more grateful and motivated that he continues to receive the trust of Ralph Näf and the entire team despite a sporting slump: “I really appreciate the fact that I can already tackle my seventh season with the team. It motivates me all the more to get the best out of myself next year and achieve top results.”
Wiedmann begins a new chapter
After four U23 years at Thömus maxon, Luke Wiedmann is leaving the team. Ralph Näf and 22-year-old Wiedmann decided together that the time had come for a change: “Our apprentice is leaving the nest,” Ralph Näf comments on Wiedmann’s departure. “Luke joined us as an 18 years old kid and has matured over the last four years. We were able to celebrate some great successes together. Now, with the transition to the elite category, it’s the right time for Luke to take a step and continue his development in a new environment. We wish him every success and look forward to continuing to follow Luke’s career closely.”
Foundation for the future
To ensure that Thömus maxon can continue to be successful beyond the next Olympic cycle, the team will continue to invest heavily in the future. The Thömus Akros Youngstars youth department, led by Marcel Kuratli, will comprise nine riders in 2025. The existing team will be joined by Nicolas Halter and Sven Sommer, both new to the U23 category. The collaboration and exchange between the elite team and the Youngstars will be further expanded and synergies exploited.