Thomas Frischknecht belongs in the premier league of cycling legends, like Ned Overend, John Tomac and Greg Herbold - with one difference: marathon world champion "Frischi" is still riding at world-class level. The 33-year-old Swiss rider, son of a successful professional cyclist, won gold at the Junior World Cross Country Championships at the age of 18 and switched to bikes in 1990. He earned his first laurels as a rival to Tomac and Co. in the USA. "Frischi" has won 13 world championship medals, eleven Swiss titles and silver at the Olympic Games in Atlanta. He is a book author, marketing professional and family man. With his wife Sibylle and his three children Andri (9), Carmen (6) and Gina (3), Frischknecht lives the life of a picture-book family in Feldbach on Lake Zurich. A house on a hillside, their own woodland, the lake on the doorstep, a vintage VW Karmann in the garage. He opened his front door exclusively for BIKE.
CAREER AND SPORT
BIKE: You were born into cycling. Why did you choose biking in particular?
Thomas Frischknecht: That was more of a coincidence. At the end of the eighties, I was successful in cross and the Ritchey team manager invited me to the USA because he thought I could also be good on a bike. That was more of an adventure for me. Biking was in the background. As a 20-year-old, my motive was to go to America. I had no idea what biking was. Then I quickly had success, I won my second Norba race against Overend and Tomac, then I won silver at the World Championships. After that, of course, I was thrilled.
Could you have imagined becoming a professional road cyclist?
When I came back, I would have had the opportunity to switch to the street. But I was bothered by the people around me, with their traditional thinking. Biking in the USA had opened up a new world. I was unencumbered by a new sport, the bikers fascinated me and I saw the sport from a new perspective.
Would you have been able to ride the Tour de France with your equipment?
I think so. I rode a lot of races with Laurent Dufaux and Beat Zberg. But I'm glad I didn't go down that route. The reason for me not to ride road was the doping problem early on. This became clear when colleagues from the past were involved in the scandals. I stayed clean on the bike. On the road, there would have been no guarantee that I could go my own way, that I could make my own decisions.
What equipment do you need as a professional?
Talent is the key to making it as a professional. But at the top, you will only meet talented people who train and eat optimally. Then it's the head that determines success.
What job would you have done if you hadn't become a professional?
I completed an apprenticeship as a draughtsman. But I learnt so much through sport that I could certainly do a job today that suits me much better than it did back then. But I've found what I'm meant to do: top-class sport.
What significance does the marathon world championship title have for you?
For me, that was the best victory of my career. Also because the race was in front of my own fans, so close and in such a big race. It's different to racing in the USA when there are only five of my mates around me. I am strongly connected to the history of bike racing. And it was clear to me that I had to take part in the first Marathon World Championships. For me personally, the marathon title is on a par with the CC title and it will also bring me more.
FAMILY
Is it typical to start a family so early as a professional cyclist?
No, that's rather unusual. I was the only one in my circle. It's also difficult to have a relationship.
How many days a year do you spend travelling?
The maximum was 200 days. But Andri was still small then, so you could always take him with you. Now I'm only travelling for ten weeks.
What problems does this lifestyle cause for the partnership?
None, actually. That's mainly down to Sibylle accepting my sport - it's anything but easy. But the constant coming and going also kept our relationship alive, we never got on each other's nerves for too long. Now that the children are older and need me more, I'm also at home more.
YOUNG TALENT WORK
How important is work with young talent for you?
A pretty big one, because I saw a responsibility in my position. I have fulfilled this with my Swisspower team. But I also benefit from that. I was able to build something for the future with the team and also learn from the riders in terms of bike handling and downhill. I benefit just as much from the guys as they do from me.
Will other sports replace biking?
No.
SHORT & SHORT
Name two people who have achieved great things: Tom Ritchey and Bono Vox
Who would you like to invite to a fondue? Lance Armstrong. That would be interesting for special topics.
Winner or good loser? Good loser
Single-malt whisky or vino rosso? Vino
Ski touring or heli-skiing? Heli-snowboarding
Book or internet surfing? Internet
Lado Fumic is for you ... ... a distinctive personality.
For you, women's cycling means ... ... not much.
The greatest cyclist of all time: Ferdi Kübler
The start of a new season: fun or stress? Fun
Who cleans your bike? My uncle Werni
Who vacuums your house? I don't know where the hoover is!
Sponsors are for you: Friends or business? Partner
A week without your family means for you ... ... Longing.
Training-free means for you ... ... Time for more important things.
The end of the career is then reached, ... ... when I can't win any more races!
PROFILE THOMAS FRISCHKNECHT
Name: Thomas Frischknecht
Nickname: Fresh
Born: 17.2.1970
Weight: 69 kilos
Size: 176 cm
Team: Swisspower
Successes: Marathon World Champion 2003, 17 World Cup victories, 3 x World Cup overall winner, CC World Champion 1996, Olympic silver medallist 1996, World Championship runner-up 1990, 91, 92, 2001, 12 x Swiss Champion, over 200 victories in total
Hobbies: Own vineyard in Tuscany, snowboarding, the family is more than just a hobby!
Sponsors: Swisspower, Scott, Odlo, Oakley, Ritchey
Favourite reading: Maps
Favourite film: Western
Favourite car: Porsche 356
Favourite food: Sushi, Tuscan red wine
Website:
www.frischi.ch
Training volume: 15 to 20 hours per week in summer, 12 to 16 hours in winter
