MTB cycling: The Ralph Näf Racing Team remains firmly in Swiss hands. In the 2018 season, the team will start under the name Thömus/RN-Racing-Team on mountain bikes from the Swiss bicycle manufacturer Thömus. The team is strengthened by newcomer Lukas Flückiger.
The Ralph Näf Racing Team is starting the 2018 season on new bikes and with newcomer Lukas Flückiger. The Swiss-based Velo-Manufaktur Thömus is joining the RN Racing Team as a bike sponsor, which is now known as Thömus/RN- Racing team that will contest the races. The cooperation was initiated by René Walker, marketing manager in the management of Thömus AG and former media spokesman for Ralph Näf. The cooperation has been decided for 2018, but if further partners are found, an extension until the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo is planned.
The team will be strengthened in the 2018 season by Vice World Champion Lukas Flückiger. The Bernese is therefore back in the same squad as his brother Mathias Flückiger. Alessandra Keller and Kathrin Stirnemann are also part of the party. The Thömus/RN Racing Team will contest the races on the Thömus Lightrider and Tomcat models. Things will get serious for the new team at the World Cup in Stellenbosch, South Africa, in mid-March. On April 8th, the Swiss fans can look forward to the team at the Swiss Bike Cup on home soil.
Thömus/RN Racing Team
Luke Flückiger
- Date of birth: January 31, 1984
Successes:
- 2nd place European Games Azerbaijan 2015
- Swiss champion cyclocross 2014
- Vice World Champion Elite 2012
- 2nd place World Cup France 2012
Mathias Fluckiger
- Date of Birth: September 27, 1988
Successes:
- 2nd place World Cup Andorra 2017
- 3rd World Cup Canada 2016
- 2nd World Cup Australia 2014
- 3rd place World Championship Elite 2013
- Swiss, European and World Champion U23 2010
- Winner overall World Cup U23 2010
Catherine Stirnemann
- Date of Birth: October 22, 1989
Successes:
- World Champion Eliminator 2014 and 2017
- European Champion Eliminator 2014, 2015 and 2017
- Swiss Champion 2015
- 2nd place European Games Azerbaijan 2015
- 2nd place European Championship U23 2010
- Swiss and European Junior Champion 2007
Alexandra Keller
- Date of birth: January 27, 1996
Successes:
- 2nd place European Championship U23 2017
- 3rd place World Championship U23 2016
- European Champion Juniors 2014
- Junior World Champion 2013
- 3rd place European Championship 2013