Thömus maxon presents team and goals for the 2026 season

At its official team presentation at Swiss Bike Park Oberried, Swiss mountain bike team Thömus maxon unveiled its sporting goals, structural developments and technical innovations for the 2026 season. With continuity in its elite squad, new partnerships and targeted investments in young talent and equipment, the team is looking forward to the coming season with ambition.

Thömus maxon will compete in 2026 with an unchanged line-up. World champion Alessandra Keller, Mathias Flückiger, Lars Forster and Vital Albin will continue to represent the team internationally.

Electricity producer Alpiq joins as sponsor

After the successes of recent years, the goal is clear: to further consolidate the team’s leading position in international cross-country mountainbiking. The highlights of the season include the European Championships on home turf in Rivera (TI), the World Championships in Val di Sole, Italy, and the legendary multi-stage race, Cape Epic.

Alpiq is a new partner on board. The Swiss electricity producer strengthens the long-term planning security of Ralph Näf’s team – especially with a view to the 2028 Summer Olympics. The two partners are linked by more than just their commitment to top-level sport: both Alpiq and Thömus maxon have strong Swiss roots, pursue international ambitions and attach great importance to people, culture, and particularly the promotion of young talent.

Näf says: “Continuity is important to us as an organisation. This is evident in our sponsors and in our rider line-up. With Alpiq as our new partner, we have laid the foundations to continue this path of success. The starting point for the 2026 season is therefore clear: we will be fighting for the top step of the podium. We are hungry for World Cup victories, for the European Championships in our own country, the World Championships in Italy and the Cape Epic, where we want to shine.”

Alessandra Keller takes part in the Cape Epic for the first time

Team leader Keller has a special sporting goal in her sights for 2026: her first participation in the Cape Epic in South Africa.

She will be competing together with local hero Candice Lille, who has already achieved several top results in this prestigious stage race. To prepare specifically for the event, Keller spent several weeks on site at the beginning of the year to optimally coordinate equipment, conditions and teamwork.

With the impressions she has gained and her intensive preparation, she is looking forward to this new chapter in her career with motivation. “I’m really looking forward to the Cape Epic. The timing has never been right before. But this year I was able to prepare specifically for this event, and it also fits in with the rest of my season planning. In Candice, I have an extremely strong and experienced partner at my side. After that, I will be focusing entirely on the World Cup. I want to perform well and do justice to my world champions jersey,” says Keller with a smile on his face.

Promoting young talent as a strategic foundation

A key component of the long-term strategy remains the systematic promotion of young talent within the Thömus maxon structure.

The ‘Alpiq Thömus – Young’ team has been repositioned. It is aimed specifically at national riders in the U15 to U19 categories and forms the first performance level within the development pyramid.

The U23 top team ‘Thömus Akros – Youngstars’ is already internationally established and has consolidated its position in international competition in recent years.

Together, these two teams form the basis of Thömus maxon’s structured talent development programme – with the clear aim of building the world class of tomorrow.

New competition equipment: innovation as a strategic success factor

To achieve its sporting goals, the team continues to rely on state-of-the-art technology. Main sponsor Thömus presents the revised Lightrider R3 Worldcup 2026, the world champion bike, in an optimised version, thus offering the perfect equipment to achieve the desired success.

With consistent development work and the ambition to be at the forefront of technology, the Swiss bike manufacturer is keeping pace with international competition and setting standards.

Outlook

Knowing personnel continuity in the elite sector, further strengthened promotion of young talent, long-term partnerships and innovative technology, Thömus maxon is starting the 2026 season with clear ambitions.