Thomas Frischknecht Explained
Thomas Frischknecht (born 17 February 1970 in Feldbach, Switzerland) is a former Swiss mountain bike and cyclo-cross racer, often called Europe's Elder Statesman of mountain biking,[1] because of his extraordinarily long career at the top level of the sport. A professional since 1990, he was on top of the Mountain Bike World Championship podium for the first time in 1996 and most recently in 2004.[2]
Biography
Frischi (as he is called) advocates staying 'fit for life' and dope free racing. He is considered an excellent example of a clean sportsman.[1] [3]
In 1996 he was second at the World Cross-country Mountain Bike Championships, but after France's Jérôme Chiotti confessed having used EPO when he won the title that year, he got the rainbow jersey from Chiotti, handed over as a friendly act in an unofficial ceremony.[4]
He won the Olympic silver medal in 1996. The next day he competed in the men's road race on a Ritchey cyclocross bike after fellow Swiss team member Tony Rominger fell ill. He finished the race in the middle of the pack.[5]
Frischknecht also competes in cyclo-cross, where he won an Amateur World Champion title, was Vice World Champion in 1997 and is a multiple-time Swiss Champion.[6]
Thomas first traveled to America in 1990 to compete in the then new genre of mountain biking. He became closely linked to Tom Ritchey, a major bike-components producer, who provided support and became a mentor and a good friend. Ritchey has sponsored him ever since. Ritchey's Swiss Cross frame draws its name from Fischknecht. Other major sponsors include Swisspower, an electric utility consortium, and Scott bicycles.
Frischknecht was author of a book on mountain biking, Richtig Mountainbiken. He is currently involved with the Frischi Bike School in the Engadin/St. Moritz area of Switzerland.
Major results
Mountain bike
- 1990
2nd Cross-country, UCI World Championships
2nd Overall XC World Cup
- 1991
2nd Cross-country, UCI World Championships
3rd Cross-country, UEC European Championships
- 1992
1st Overall XC World Cup
1st Mont-Sainte-Anne
1st Landgraaf
1st Strathpeffer
1st Mount Snow
2nd Hunter Mountain
2nd Cross-country, UCI World Championships
- 1993
1st Cross-country, UEC European Championships
1st Overall XC World Cup
1st Barcelona
1st Mount Snow
2nd Bassano del Grappa
2nd Mont-Sainte-Anne
3rd Bromont
- 1994
1st Cross-country, National Championships
UCI XC World Cup
1st Mount Snow
1st Mont-Sainte-Anne
2nd Madrid
3rd Lenzerheide
- 1995
1st Overall XC World Cup
1st Vail
1st Mammoth Lakes
2nd Houffalize
3rd Cairns
3rd Budapest
- 1996
1st Cross-country, UCI World Championships
1st Cross-country, National Championships
2nd Overall UCI XC World Cup
1st Lisbon
1st Sankt Wendel
1st Kualoa Ranch
2nd Mount Helen
3rd Bromont
2nd Cross-country, Olympic Games
2nd Overall XC World Cup
- 1997
1st Cross-country, National Championships
UCI XC World Cup
1st Sankt Wendel
- 1998
1st Cross-country, National Championships
UCI XC World Cup
1st Budapest
3rd Napa Valley
3rd Cross-country, UEC European Championships
- 1999
UCI XC World Cup
1st Canmore
- 2000
UCI XC World Cup
2nd Lausanne
- 2001
UCI XC World Cup
1st Kaprun
2nd Cross-country, UCI World Championships
- 2002
2nd Cross-country, National Championships
3rd Cross-country, UCI World Championships
3rd Overall XC World Cup
- 2003
1st Marathon, UCI World Championships
UCI XC World Cup
2nd Kaprun
- 2004
3rd Cross-country, UCI World Championships
- 2005
1st Marathon, UCI World Championships
2nd Cross-country, National Championships
- 2017
1st Overall Mixed Cape Epic (with Jenny Rissveds)Cyclo-cross
- 1987–1988
1st UCI World Junior Championships
- 1989–1990
Superprestige
1st Rome
3rd Zürich-Waid
1st Eschenbach
3rd UCI World Amateur Championships
- 1990–1991
1st UCI World Amateur Championships
1st Meilen
Superprestige
2nd Zarautz
2nd Wetzikon
3rd Rome
3rd Overijse
2nd Eschenbach
2nd Steinmaur
- 1991–1992
Superprestige
1st Overijse
1st Wetzikon
2nd Zarautz
3rd Harnes
1st Berlin
2nd Volketswil
2nd Muntelier
2nd Vossem
3rd UCI World Amateur Championships
3rd Eschenbach
3rd Leeds
- 1992–1993
2nd Overall Superprestige
1st Rome
2nd Plzeň
2nd Zarautz
2nd Overijse
2nd Asper-Gavere
2nd Zillebeke
1st Sankt-Gallen
1st Berlin
1st Liestal
1st Lyss
1st Gansingen
1st Dagmersellen
1st Solbiate Olona
2nd National Championships
2nd Brouilly
2nd Meilen
3rd Zürich
- 1993–1994
3rd Overall Superprestige
1st Asper-Gavere
1st Wetzikon
2nd Diegem
2nd Milan
2nd Westouter-Zillebeke
1st Berlin
2nd National Championships
2nd Sankt-Gallen
3rd Hombrechtikon
- 1994–1995
1st Dagmersellen
2nd Hombrechtikon
- 1995–1996
2nd Solbiate Olona
2nd Volketswil
2nd Sankt-Gallen
3rd National Championships
3rd Langenthal
3rd Dagmersellen
3rd Hombrechtikon
3rd Liestal
UCI World Cup
5th Pontchâteau
- 1996–1997
1st National Championships
1st Gansingen
2nd UCI World Championships
Superprestige
2nd Wetzikon
2nd Sankt-Gallen
2nd Uster
UCI World Cup
3rd Heerlen
4th Koksijde
4th Nommay
3rd Meilen
3rd Hombrechtikon
- 1997–1998
2nd Magstadt
2nd Volketswil
3rd National Championships
UCI World Cup
4th Solbiate Olona
- 1998–1999
1st National Championships
UCI World Cup
1st Zeddam
4th Nommay
1st Hombrechtikon
1st Meilen
1st Magstadt
2nd Rüti
3rd Uster
5th UCI World Championships
- 1999–2000
1st Liestal
1st Obergösgen
2nd National Championships
2nd Hittnau
2nd Hombrechtikon
2nd Dagmersellen
- 2000–2001
1st Magstadt
1st Safenwil
2nd Obergösgen
2nd Hombrechtikon
- 2001–2002
1st National Championships
1st Castelnuovo
1st Dagmersellen
2nd Obergösgen
- 2002–2003
1st Hittnau
1st Dagmersellen
1st Hombrechtikon
1st Rennen Russikon
2nd Meilen
2nd Zürich
3rd Frenkendorf
- 2003–2004
2nd National Championships
2nd Magstadt
2nd Frenkendorf
2nd Hittnau
2nd Rüti
2nd Steinmaur
3rd Uster
- 2004–2005
1st San Mateo I
1st San Mateo II
2nd Steinmaur
3rd Sint-Niklaas
3rd Rüti
3rd Dagmersellen
- 2005–2006
1st Magstadt
2nd Steinmaur
- 2006–2007
2nd Frenkendorf
2nd Rüti
3rd Dagmersellen
3rd Dübendorf
- 2007–2008
2nd National Championships
2nd Dagmersellen
2nd Dübendorf
3rd Schmerikon
- 2008–2009
1st SteinmaurReferences
- Web site: Thomas Frischknecht . Mountain Bike Hall of Fame . 7 March 2017 . 1999 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060630154021/http://www.mtnbikehalloffame.com/inductees.cfm?page=99&mID=84 . 30 June 2006.
- Web site: Men, Mountain Bike World Cup. UCI. July 25, 2006.
- Web site: Doping statement . Frischknecht's home page . July 25, 2006 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20050318131752/http://www.frischi.ch/doping.asp . March 18, 2005.
- Web site: News for May 25, 2000: Chiotti hands it back. Cycling News. July 25, 2006. May 25, 2000.
- Web site: Interview: Thomas Frischknecht. Bike Radar. July 25, 2008. August 12, 2008.
- Web site: CycloX World Cup: Coupe du Monde - 1998-1999. Union Cycliste Internationale. July 25, 2006. January 3, 1999.
External links
