PEOPLE | RIDERS WE LIKE
nino schurter is considered one of the best mountain bike riders
in the history of cycling, his achievements a glittering list of
gold, silver and bronze medals. the seven-time xco world champ,
six-time world cup winner, three-time olympic medallist and
four-time swiss xco national champ was crowned 2018 swiss
sportsman of the year. a much-deserved title and yet he remains
as humble and approachable as ever, with a pure hunger to ride,
race and win. our editor, paul ingpen, caught up with the star in
the lead-up to the 2019 absa cape epic, where he’ll be partnering
with andri frischknecht, intent on repeating his 2017 victory.
ou were a firm favourite
to defend your 2017
title last year before
your partner (Matthias
Stirnemann) became
ill and you guys were forced to
withdraw. Now you have a new-
look team. Are you confident that
you can reach the level of your
dominant 2017 performance?
I’m confident with the new team,
we have the same chance of winning
as we had in 2017. But with last
year’s incident, it also shows that the
Cape Epic is unpredictable and
you can’t take anything for granted.
Sometimes luck is on your side and
sometimes not.
We recently spent a lot of time
together here in South Africa
and, despite you having won
everything, you are clearly as
hungry to win as ever. What
motivates you? Is it records, or
32 | MTB | ultimate sportsman
do you just love to ride and win?
I love to ride, I love to race and I love
to win! Sometimes this all comes
together at once and, if not, I still
always love to ride and race.
When IRONMAN world champion
Sebi Kienle was here to race Epic
last year he said every time he
races people expect him to win,
which makes even second place
feel like a loss. Do you find the
crowd and media pressure to
dominate every race motivating,
or are you happy to let B races go
to others?
I’m racing for myself and not for the
media or crowd, in particular. The
expectations of the others don’t
bother me too much. I go to the start
line to give my best. That’s for an A
or B or C race. If it turns out someone
is faster, I have to accept it. Luckily,
this hasn’t happened too much the
last few years….
Is the tail whip spontaneous
when you’re dominating, or is it
at times a crowd pleaser to get
support behind you when you’re
under pressure?
It comes from my passion for racing
and riding a bike. If I can make my
fans happy doing it, then even better!
You rode a 27.5” wheel bike for
many years. Is Epic a specific 29er
course or might a 27.5 have
a place for certain riders?
I would call the Cape Epic a particular
29” race. The 27.5” had its plusses
a few years ago, but more on hectic
XCO race tracks than in a marathon
race like the Epic.
Are you perhaps a somewhat
unique rider in that you are able
to race and win Epic while still
dominating XCO World Cups, or
are we likely to see more XCO
riders dominate the way short