Thömus maxon dominates the world rankings

This has never happened before! The Swiss MTB team Thömus maxon is currently number 1 in both the women’s and men’s world rankings. Since Tuesday, 5 September, Alessandra Keller and Lars Forster have been at the top of the international mountain bike ranking. With Mathias Flückiger in second place, the Swiss team even has a double lead in the men’s ranking. In the team ranking, Thömus maxon also climbs further up – to 2nd place.

Alessandra Keller has been back at the top of the world rankings since last week. The 27-year-old had taken over this lead about a year ago, on 6 September 2022. About a month ago, at the beginning of August, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot temporarily put herself in first place. But Keller regained this lead last week, after only one month.

Alessandra Keller:

“For me this is a big reward. It is the highest award you can achieve. Because it means a confirmation of the performance and the consistency over a whole year. After the super season in 2022, to be able to repeat that this year makes me proud. Becoming world number 1 is one thing. To confirm this performance is the other.”

While Alessandra Keller will soon be entering her 50th week as world number 1, Lars Forster, the newcomer to Thömus maxon this season, reaches this position this week for the first time in his career. Right behind him, Mathias Flückiger has taken big steps towards the top again and currently occupies 2nd place.

Lars Forster:

“I am extremely happy. It gives me great appreciation and satisfaction that I have been able to deliver results and perform at my best for a long time. This year there have been big changes with the new team. Currently, the many pieces of the puzzle fit together perfectly. I don’t feel any pressure now because of that, I just enjoy it, at least until next Tuesday when the new ranking will be published.”

With the excellent performances of Alessandra Keller, Lars Forster, Mathias Flückiger and Vital Albin, Thömus maxon also climbed far up the team rankings. The Swiss team, led by former world and European champion Ralph Näf, set new standards against the big international teams. In the team ranking, Thömus maxon now occupies 2nd place for the first time.

Ralph Näf, team manager:

“It is a very special moment for us to lead both classifications – even with a double lead in the men’s ranking. We are a Swiss team, with Swiss staff and Swiss sponsors. It takes many years of building up, because we don’t just buy the best riders on the market. But for me it is also a confirmation of our season planning. For Alessandra and Lars it means great prestige to be the world number 1. If you are there, you always have to deliver good and consistent results. That is what distinguishes our riders. We are proud to have three of them at the moment.”