My world: Tomi Misser - the double world champion in XC and DH turns 50
BIKE
· 25.08.2024
There from the start: Tomi Misser started his career back in 1990 in the early years of mountain biking. Together with his younger brother Pau, he focussed on the downhill discipline. Tomi won his first World Cup in Canada in 1996. This was followed by two more World Cup victories. In 2003, Misser withdrew from the professional DH World Cup. But instead of hanging up his bike completely, the wiry Spaniard tried out other cycling disciplines.
Misser not only has impeccable bike control, but is also a merciless endurance animal. At almost 50 years old, he won the world championships in the cross-country and downhill discipline again this year, beating off competition almost ten years his junior. He thus repeated his double victory from 2019 in Mont-Sainte-Anne.
Fun fact: Tomi Misser has only recently started riding with a retractable seatpost
Although Tomi has mastered all disciplines on the bike, it was only recently that he was able to familiarise himself with a telescopic seat post. "It doesn't make me any faster, but it gives me a bit more reserves," says Misser.
Together with team partner Karl Platt, Misser has not only won the Cape Epic twice, but also the Swiss Epic, Transalp and 4Islands in the Masters category. "Tomi is a very sociable, down-to-earth guy," says Karl Platt. He has no airs or graces. The only thing Tomi doesn't like is half measures when it comes to preparing his bike and equipment. His bikes always have to be hand-polished and the equipment has to be 100 per cent right.
15-year-old son Max (right) is following in dad Tomi's footsteps, as seen here together at the BC Bike Race.
Unbeatable: Tomi Misser wins the World Downhill and Cross Country Championships again this year in Cairns, Australia.
Big plans: With almost 50 years on the clock and two gold medals under his belt, Tomi remains hungry for success. In October, he wants to secure the gravel crown in Belgium. In December, he will be hunting for another rainbow jersey at the Cyclo-Cross World Championships.
