Thomas Frischknecht

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Thomas Frischknecht
Frischknecht in 1996
Frischknecht in 1996
Personal information
Full name Thomas Frischknecht
Nickname Frischi
Date of birth February 17, 1970 (1970-02-17) (age 38)
Country Flag of Switzerland Switzerland
Height 1.76 m
Weight 69 kg
Team information
Current team Swisspower
Discipline MTB
Role Rider
Professional team(s)
1990-2000
2001-		 Ritchey
Swisspower
Major wins
World MTB Marathon Champion (2003, 2005)
World MTB Cross Country Champion (1996)
Infobox last updated on:
January 17, 2007

Thomas Frischknecht (born February 17, 1970 in Feldbach, Switzerland) is a Swiss mountain bike 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]

Contents

[edit] 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 Championships, but after France's Jerome 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.

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.[5]

Thomas is married and has two children. Thomas's father was a cyclo-cross racer as well, winning three silver medals at World Championships. He won a Swiss stage race called Grandprixtell in the early 1990s[citation needed], and took part in the Olympic Road Race in 1996.[citation needed]

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. Other major sponsors include Swisspower, an electric utility consortium, and Scott bicycles.

Frischknecht was multiple Swiss cyclist of the year[citation needed] and 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.

[edit] Major victories

Medal record
Competitor for Flag of Switzerland Switzerland
Mountain bike racing
Olympic Games
Silver 1996 Atlanta Cross Country
World Championships
Gold 2005 Marathon
Gold 2003 Marathon
Gold 1996 Cross Country
Silver 2001 Cross Country
Silver 1992 Cross Country
Silver 1991 Cross Country
Silver 1990 Cross Country
Bronze 2004 Cross Country
Bronze 2002 Cross Country
  1. 1988: 1º in World Championship, Cyclo-cross, Juniors, Hagendorf
  2. 1989: 1º in Roma, Cyclo-cross (ITA)
  3. 1989: 2º in Schulteiss-Cup, Cyclo-cross (GER)
  4. 1989: 3º in Zürich-Waid, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  5. 1990: 3º in Roma, Cyclo-cross (ITA)
  6. 1990: 1º in Schulteiss-Cup, Cyclo-cross (GER)
  7. 1990: 2º in Wetzikon, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  8. 1990: 3º in World Championship, Cyclo-cross, Amateurs, Getxo
  9. 1990: 2º in World Championship, Mountainbike XC Elite, Durango
  10. 1990: 2º in Zarautz, Cyclo-cross (ESP)
  11. 1991: 1º in National Championship, Cyclo-cross, Elite, Switzerland (SUI)
  12. 1991: 1º in Overijse, Cyclo-cross (BEL)
  13. 1991: 1º in Schulteiss-Cup, Cyclo-cross (GER)
  14. 1991: 1º in Wetzikon, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  15. 1991: 1º in World Championship, Cyclo-cross, Amateurs, Gieten
  16. 1991: 2º in World Championship, Mountainbike XC Elite, Ciocco
  17. 1991: 2º in Zarautz, Cyclo-cross (ESP)
  18. 1992: 1º in Dagmersellen, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  19. 1992: 3º in Harnes, Cyclo-cross (FRA)
  20. 1992: 1º in Mont Sainte-Anne, Mountainbike (CAN)
  21. 1992: 2º in Overijse, Cyclo-cross (BEL)
  22. 1992: 2º in Pilzen, Cyclo-cross (TCH)
  23. 1992: 1º in Roma, Cyclo-cross (ITA)
  24. 1992: 1º in Schulteiss-Cup, Cyclo-cross (GER)
  25. 1992: 3º in World Championship, Cyclo-cross, Amateurs, Leeds
  26. 1992: 2º in World Championship, Mountainbike XC Elite, Bromont
  27. 1992: 2º in Zarautz, Cyclo-cross (ESP)
  28. 1992: 2º in Zillebeke, Cyclo-cross (BEL)
  29. 1992: 2º in Vossem, Cyclo-cross (BEL)
  30. 1992: 1º in Landgraaf, Mountainbike (NED)
  31. 1992: 1º in Strathpeffer, Mountainbike (GBR)
  32. 1992: 2º in Hunter Mountain, Mountainbike (USA)
  33. 1992: 1º in Mount Snow, Mountainbike (USA)
  34. 1993: 1º in European Championship, Mountainbike, Elite
  35. 1993: 2º in Milano, Cyclo-cross (ITA)
  36. 1993: 2º in Mont Sainte-Anne, Mountainbike (CAN)
  37. 1993: 1º in Schulteiss-Cup, Cyclo-cross (GER)
  38. 1993: 2º in Westouter, Cyclo-cross (BEL)
  39. 1993: 1º in Wetzikon, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  40. 1993: 2º in Meilen, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  41. 1993: 2º in Bassano del Grappa, Mountainbike (ITA)
  42. 1993: 3º in Bromont, Mountainbike (CAN)
  43. 1993: 2º in Diegem, Cyclo-cross (BEL)
  44. 1994: 1º in Dagmersellen, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  45. 1994: 2º in Madrid, Mountainbike (ESP)
  46. 1994: 1º in Mont Sainte-Anne, Mountainbike (CAN)
  47. 1995: 3º in Dagmersellen, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  48. 1995: 3º in Cairns, Mountainbike (AUS)
  49. 1995: 2º in Houffalize, Mountainbike (BEL)
  50. 1995: 3º in Budapest, Mountainbike (HUN)
  51. 1995: 1º in Vail, Mountainbike (USA)
  52. 1995: 1º in Mammoth Lakes, Mountainbike (USA)
  53. 1996: 3º in Langenthal, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  54. 1996: 2º in Olympic Games, Mountainbike, Atlanta
  55. 1996: 1º in World Championship, Mountainbike XC Elite, Cairns
  56. 1996: 3º in National Championship, Cyclo-cross, Elite, Switzerland, Wetzikon (SUI)
  57. 1996: 1º in Sankt-Wendel, Mountainbike (GER)
  58. 1996: 3º in Bromont, Mountainbike (CAN)
  59. 1996: 2º in Sankt-Gallen, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  60. 1996: 2º in Uster, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  61. 1996: 1º in Gansingen, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  62. 1996: 3º in Hombrechtikon, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  63. 1997: 2º in World Championship, Cyclo-cross, Elite, München
  64. 1997: 3º in Meilen, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  65. 1997: 1º in National Championship, Cyclo-cross, Elite, Switzerland, Liestal (SUI)
  66. 1997: 3º in Heerlen, Cyclo-cross (NED)
  67. 1997: 2º in Wetzikon, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  68. 1997: 1º in Sankt-Wendel, Mountainbike (GER)
  69. 1997: 2º in Volketswill, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  70. 1998: 3º in European Championship, Mountainbike, Elite
  71. 1998: 3º in Napa Valley, Mountainbike (USA)
  72. 1998: 3º in National Championship, Cyclo-cross, Elite, Switzerland, Rueti (SUI)
  73. 1998: 2º in Magstadt, Cyclo-cross (GER)
  74. 1998: 1º in Budapest, Mountainbike (HUN)
  75. 1998: 3º in Uster, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  76. 1998: 1º in Hombrechtikon, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  77. 1999: 2º in Hombrechtikon, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  78. 1999: 1º in Meilen, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  79. 1999: 1º in Zeddam, Cyclo-cross (NED)
  80. 1999: 1º in Magstadt, Cyclo-cross (GER)
  81. 1999: 1º in National Championship, Cyclo-cross, Elite, Switzerland, Eschenbach (SUI)
  82. 1999: 1º in Canmore, Mountainbike (AUS)
  83. 1999: 2º in Hittnau, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  84. 1999: 1º in Liestal, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  85. 1999: 1º in Obergögsen, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  86. 1999: 2º in Dagmersellen, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  87. 2000: 2º in Hombrechtikon, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  88. 2000: 2º in National Championship, Cyclo-cross, Elite, Switzerland (SUI)
  89. 2000: 3º in Schynberg Rundfahrt Sulz (SUI)
  90. 2000: 2º in Lausanne, Mountainbike (SUI)
  91. 2000: 2º in Obergögsen, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  92. 2001: 1º in Safenwil, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  93. 2001: 1º in Magstadt, Cyclo-cross (GER)
  94. 2001: 1º in Kaprun, Mountainbike (AUT)
  95. 2001: 2º in World Championship, Mountainbike XC Elite, Vail-Beaver Creek
  96. 2001: 2º in Obergögsen, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  97. 2001: 1º in Castelnuovo, Cyclo-cross (ITA)
  98. 2001: 1º in Dagmersellen, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  99. 2002: 1º in Dagmersellen, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  100. 2002: 1º in National Championship, Cyclo-cross, Elite, Switzerland (SUI)
  101. 2002: 3º in World Championship, Mountainbike XC Elite, Kaprun-Zell am Zee
  102. 2002: 1º in Hittnau, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  103. 2002: 3º in Frenkendorf, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  104. 2002: 2º in Zürich-Waid, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  105. 2002: 2º in Meilen, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  106. 2002: 1º in San Mateo, Cyclo-cross (USA)
  107. 2002: 1º in Hombrechtikon, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  108. 2003: 2º in Frenkendorf, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  109. 2003: 2º in Steinmaur, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  110. 2003: 1º in World Championship, Mountainbike Marathon
  111. 2003: 1º in Russikon, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  112. 2003: 2º in Kaprun, Mountainbike (AUT)
  113. 2003: 2º in Rüti, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  114. 2003: 2º in Hittnau, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  115. 2004: 3º in Uster, Cyclo-cross, Uster (SUI)
  116. 2004: 2º in Magstadt, Cyclo-cross (GER)
  117. 2004: 3º in World Championship, Mountainbike XC Elite, Les Gets
  118. 2004: 3º in Rüti, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  119. 2004: 2º in Steinmaur, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  120. 2004: 1º in San Mateo, Cyclo-cross (b) (USA)
  121. 2004: 1º in San Mateo, Cyclo-cross (USA)
  122. 2004: 3º in Dagmersellen, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  123. 2005: 3º in Sint-Niklaas, Cyclo-cross (BEL)
  124. 2005: 2º in National Championship, Mountainbike, Elite, Switzerland, Champéry (SUI)
  125. 2005: 1º in World Championship, Mountainbike Marathon, Lillehammer (NOR)
  126. 2005: 1º in Magstadt, Cyclo-cross (GER)
  127. 2005: 2º in Steinmaur, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  128. 2006: 2º in Rüti, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  129. 2006: 2º in Frenkendorf, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  130. 2006: 2º in Rennaz-Noville, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  131. 2006: 3º in Dagmersellen, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  132. 2007: 3º in Dübendorf, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  133. 2007: 2º in Dagmersellen, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  134. 2007: 3º in Schmerikon, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  135. 2008: 2º in Dübendorf, Cyclo-cross (SUI)
  136. 2008: 2º in National Championship, Cyclo-cross, Elite, Switzerland, Frenkendorf (SUI)

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Thomas Frischknecht. Mountain Bike Hall of Fame (1999). Retrieved on July 25, 2006.
  2. ^ Men, Mountain Bike World Cup. UCI. Retrieved on July 25, 2006.
  3. ^ Doping statement. Frischknecht's home page. Retrieved on July 25, 2006.
  4. ^ News for May 25, 2000: Chiotti hands it back. Cycling News (May 25, 2000). Retrieved on July 25, 2006.
  5. ^ CycloX World Cup: Coupe du Monde - 1998-1999. Union Cycliste Internationale (January 3, 1999). Retrieved on July 25, 2006.

[edit] External links