During the official team presentation at the Swiss Bike Park in Oberried, the Swiss mountain bike team Thömus maxon unveiled its sporting goals, structural developments and technical innovations for the 2026 season. With continuity in its elite roster, new partnerships and targeted investments in youth development and equipment, the team looks ahead to the upcoming race season with strong ambitions.
In 2026, Thömus maxon will compete with an unchanged line-up. World champion Alessandra Keller, Mathias Flückiger, Lars Forster and Vital Albin will once again represent the team’s colours on the international stage.
Energy producer Alpiq joins as a new partner
Following the successes of recent years, the objective is clear: to further strengthen the team’s leading position in international cross-country racing. Season highlights include the European Championships on home soil in Rivera (TI), the World Championships in Val di Sole, Italy, as well as the legendary multi-stage race Cape Epic.
Alpiq joins the team as a new partner. The Swiss energy producer strengthens the long-term planning security of Ralph Näf’s team – particularly with a view to the 2028 Olympic Games. The two partners share more than just an involvement in elite sport. Both Alpiq and Thömus maxon have strong Swiss roots, pursue international ambitions and place great importance on people, culture and especially the development of young talent.
Näf says: “For us as an organisation, continuity is essential. You can see that in our sponsors as well as in our rider line-up. With Alpiq as a new partner, we have created the foundation to continue moving forward successfully on this path. The starting position for the 2026 season is therefore clear: we want to fight for the top step of the podium. We are hungry for World Cup victories, for the European Championships on home soil, the World Championships in Italy and the Cape Epic, where we want to shine.”
Alessandra Keller to race Cape Epic for the first time
For team leader Alessandra Keller, the 2026 season will include a special sporting goal: her first participation in the Cape Epic in South Africa.
She will compete in a two-rider team with local star Candice Lill, who has already achieved several top results in this prestigious stage race. As part of her preparation, Keller spent several weeks in South Africa at the beginning of the year to optimally align equipment, conditions and teamwork.
With these impressions and the intensive preparation, she looks forward to this new chapter of her career with great motivation.“I’m incredibly excited about the Cape Epic. The timing never worked out before. This year I was able to prepare specifically for this event and it fits perfectly into my overall season planning. With Candice, I have an extremely strong and experienced partner by my side. After that, my full focus will shift to the World Cup. I want to perform there and do justice to my world champion jersey,” Keller says with a smile.
Developing young talent as a strategic foundation
A central element of Thömus maxon’s long-term strategy remains the systematic development of young riders within its team structure.
The team “Alpiq Thömus – Young” has been newly positioned and focuses specifically on national riders in the U15 to U19 categories, forming the first performance level within the team’s development pyramid.
Already well established internationally is the U23 elite team “Thömus Akros – Youngstars”, which has strengthened its position in international competition over the past years.
Together, these two teams form the foundation of Thömus maxon’s structured talent development system – with the clear ambition of building the world-class riders of tomorrow.
New race equipment: innovation as a key success factor
To achieve its sporting goals, the team continues to rely on cutting-edge technology. Main sponsor Thömus presents the updated Lightrider R3 Worldcup 2026 – the world champion bike in an optimised version – providing the perfect equipment to achieve the desired results.
Through consistent development work and the ambition to remain at the forefront of technology, the Swiss bike manufacturer keeps pace with international competition while setting new benchmarks.
Outlook
With continuity in its elite roster, strengthened youth development, long-term partnerships and innovative technology, Thömus maxon enters the 2026 season with clear ambitions.