Swiss High Ride
- Ralph Näf
- Mathias Flückiger
- Alessandra Keller
- Bruno Diethelm
- Thomas “Thömu” Binggeli
- Marcel Kuratli
How asmall country became a mountain bike powerhouse.
The second episode of the RACEBACK HOME series shows how much Swissness is behind the success of Thömusmaxon – and what it takes to race at the top.
The 2025 World Championships in Valais are more than just a home race. They’re aonce-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make history. In Episode 2, the Thömus maxonteam dives deeper into the 2025 World Championship year and asks: What’s thesecret behind Switzerland’s mountain bike success?
The episode follows Alessandra Keller and Mathias Flückiger on their mission for gold – andreflects on key moments in their careers. Both know what it’s like to comeclose. And both know that persistence is the key to success. Alessandra and Mathias were U19 and U23 World Champions. Together, the Keller–Flückiger duohas won no less than four Elite World Championship silver medals: Mathias stoodon the XCO podium three times as vice world champion; Alessandra claimed silverin the XCC. But the ultimate dream – the elite rainbow jersey – is still alive.
Swissness is more than just origin
With Bruno Diethelm, former national coach and now coach of Thömus AkrosYoungstars, and Marcel Kuratli, co-founder of the team structure, the episodeexplores: How does Switzerland continue to produce top talent? What makes thesystem so effective? And how do you create an environment where performance cangrow – without losing the joy of the sport?
Because Episode 2 also shows this: Those who believe in their dream, who keep pushing,who never stop working – can achieve it. But only those who preserve theirpassion and joy along the way truly stay at the top.
A story ofendurance, identity, and the power of a shared vision. A story thatinspires.
Mathias Flückiger wins at the U23 World Championships in New Zealand
Ralph Näf crowned himself the first-ever Cross-Country Eliminator (XCE) World Champion in Leogang in 2012.
Alessandra Keller after a muddy 2nd place at the 2015 U23 World Cup in Albstadt.
Ralph Näf at the 2015 Val di Sole World Cup with his youngest fans.
Thömus RN Racing Team – at the beginning in Oberried
Ralph Näf with Youngstar Sirin Städler in Andorra at the UCI XCO World Cup Race
Traning Camp with Thömus maxon Team and Thömus Akros Youngstars Team
Alessandra Keller crowned herself U23 XCO World Champion
World Championship 2018 in Mont Sainte Anne with Mathias Flückiger at the Victory Ceremony
Bruno Diethelm Trainingscamp with Thömus Akros Youngstars Team
Team Thömus Youngstars in 2019 with Marcel Kuratli
Jean-Luc Halter
Tobias Stasser,
Simon Meirandres
with Andrew Measham
