New lightweight e-bike and more locations

With new Swissrider and three more locations into the new year: Thömus launches the new Swissrider, probably the nimblest e-bike ever. The launch took place in Santa Monica (USA), where Thömus has a new location and is entering a new market through a partnership. At the same time, Thömus is strengthening its presence in its home market with new locations in Lenzburg and the Principality of Liechtenstein.

The Swissrider with its modern design and its light weight of 11.5 kilos is the bike for daily use. Its basis is the ultra-light carbon frame and the drive technology from maxon, which has also proven itself in NASA’s Mars Rover. In the summer, Thömus launched the Lightrider E Ultimate, the first e-mountain bike with Swiss drive specialists maxon.
For Thomas Binggeli, CEO and test rider at Thömus, the new development is a milestone: “The Swissrider is an e-bike for life. Light enough that it can be carried up the stairs and hung on the train without effort, yet with enough power to ride with ease.” Only a discreetly integrated control element on the top tube suggests that there is more power in the bike.
The Swissrider is available now in dark red, sand and black starting at CHF 4,750 and is designed as a bike for all situations – with mudguard, luggage rack, the light integrated into the frame and the fast road tires. The Swissrider is also available with wider gravel tires, with straight handlebars or with racing handlebars. As with every Thömus bike, components and equipment are freely selectable and configurable.

Thömus goes USA

Thömus also developed the Swissrider at its headquarters in Oberried, where Binggeli started his bike production on his parents’ farm. But he presented it on the occasion of the opening of his new location in a good location in Santa Monica, California.
“In the USA, velomobility has huge potential, and Swiss precision is in demand there. I am delighted about the partnership with Bernardo Gonzalez,” says Binggeli. He offers the entire Thömus range in a franchise and assembles the bikes there individually. Gonzalez has already successfully opened up new markets in partnerships with Nespresso or Technogym.
“Switzerland is a technology and design center, especially for bicycles and e-bikes,” says Bernardo Gonzalez, explaining why he wanted to partner with Thömus. “When Thömu Binggeli explained his vision to me, it was clear that this would be a success story in California.”

Also present in Santa Monica was former NASA CTO Thomas Zurbuchen, who is very familiar with maxon’s drive technology through a wealth of experience from various Mars missions. The CEO of maxon Group, Eugen Elmiger was also present at the presentation of the new Swissrider. “We are convinced that light e-bike drives have a lot of potential in urban life. The Swissrider relies on sleek design, super-light construction and electric tailwind from maxon. A promising package for this market.”

Two new locations

Thömus is also strengthening its presence in its home market. Since the beginning of the year, there have been additional locations in Lenzburg as well as in the Principality of Liechtenstein – currently in Triesen, and from April in Schaan.

Der Swissrider – als Road, City oder Gravel Version
Thömu Binggeli im Gespräch mit Thomas Zurbuchen

About Thömus

For more than 30 years Thömus has been an independent producer of technically high-quality bikes – and thus trumps even in the middle of the bicycle boom with fast delivery times. “Swiss made to fascinate” is the motto of the company with 120 employees. Thömus produces in its own factory in Thörishaus near Bern with creativity, innovation and passion. Whether mountain bike, road bike or city bike – the high-quality Thömus bikes are available with electric assistance and without motor. Because everyone’s anatomy is different, as are their needs, there is no “one bike” at Thömus. Each bike is built individually according to the customer’s wishes. The community and its feedback is important to Thömus. Bike fans of all ages and strengths meet at many events for joint activities and exchanges. The experiences of customers and athletes flow directly back into the further development of the models.

About Bernardo Gonzalez

Born in Mexico City in 1973, Bernardo Gonzalez founded his first company (cement trading) at the age of 21, which he successfully resold seven years later. He took over a food services company that grew to become the largest of its kind in Mexico. Nespresso – which he brought to Mexico – was the first time he came into direct contact with a Swiss company. Gonzalez founded Cascada Fund, took over the trading company for Technogym distribution and founded Spinciti. He holds master’s degrees in entrepreneurship from Babson University Boston and in economics from Monterey Tech, was also a finance professor there, and attended two executive programs at Stanford.

Lars Forster joins Thömus maxon

The two-time European MTB champion Lars Forster joins the team Thömus maxon. Forster will make his debut in the red colors of the Swiss mountain bike team already on 2. January 2023, at the final of the Swiss Cyclocross Cup in Meilen. Thömus maxon also presents ASSOS, a new clothing partner.

Team Thömus maxon enters the 2023 season even stronger and even more broadly positioned. With the signing of 29-year-old Lars Forster, team boss Ralph Näf’s squad will be competing with three riders in the elite men’s category for the first time. Mathias Flückiger and Vital Albin will have a third strong man at their side: “We are very pleased to have signed Lars Forster. Despite his two European Championship titles, his World Cup victory in Snowshoe in 2019 and other international victories, Lars still has great untapped potential. In addition, he also fits very well into the team on a personal level,” says Ralph Näf, explaining the reasons for signing Lars Forster.

Forster: “The decisive factor was trust”.

Lars Forster, on the other hand, is very much looking forward to the new collaboration with Thömus maxon: “The decisive factor for me was that Ralph and the team have placed their trust in me and believe in me. That gives me great confidence. What’s more, Thömus maxon has everything it takes to be successful: a professional environment, a super team spirit and great equipment.”

The goals for Thömus maxon are clear, as Ralph Näf looks ahead: “We want to win World Cup races, national and international titles this season and be one of the world’s best mountain bike teams!” These objectives also match those of Forster. The newcomer wants to be in top shape already at the start of the season and the first World Cups. Forster’s biggest goal for the season is the World Championships in August in Glasgow, Scotland, the same place where he won his first European title in 2018.

ASSOS new clothing partner

There is also a new addition to report in the area of partners. The team is now dressed by the traditional Swiss brand ASSOS. This makes Thömus maxon even more “Swiss”. The motivation is extremely high to ride into the international spotlight with the high quality ASSOS products. The new jersey is still based on the color red from the main sponsor Thömus and convinces with its simple, classic and yet very eye-catching design.

Cross-country cycling as the start of the season

As in previous years, the season will be launched with two cross-country cycling events. Alessandra Keller, Vital Albin, Luke Wiedmann and Lars Forster will perform on Monday, 2. January 2023, at the Radquer Meilen. This is also the final of the Swiss Cyclocross Cup. Barely two weeks later, the Swiss Championships in Mettmenstetten (January 15) are on the agenda. After that, the focus will be on preparing for the MTB season.

Lars Forster in a nutshell:

Date of birth: 1. August 1993

Height/weight: 177 cm, 68 kg

Greatest achievements:

European champion 2018 and 2021

World Cup victory Snowshoe (USA) 2019

Cape Epic overall victory 2019

Swiss champion cyclo-cross 2016, 2018, 2020

Thömus takes over 2-Rad-Center Hartmann in Lenzburg

In a succession arrangement, Thömus AG will take over the traditional company 2-Rad-Center Hartmann in Lenzburg from January 2023, opening its first store with workshop in the Aargau region. All employees will be retained.

René and Anita Hartmann have been running the family business most recently. Regarding the succession plan, they say: “Finding a Swiss solution was very important to us. With Swissness, personal advice, quality and a wide range of services, Thömus stands for the same values that 2-Rad-Center Hartmann has lived by for the past almost 60 years.”

In addition to modern premises, a spacious workshop also belongs to the specialist dealer established in the region. With this acquisition, Thömus continues its expansion throughout Switzerland and makes Velo Hightech from Bern also easily accessible for the Aargau region in the future.

“Swissness is in our DNA,” says Thomas Binggeli, CEO and test driver at Thömus. “We rely on Swiss development, Swiss production and our community. It is central for us to bring our proven service close to our customers.”

It’s not just selling bikes. The community is a particularly important point for Thömus, a philosophy. Velo fans of all ages and strengths meet at various events for joint activities. The customer experiences gathered in the process flow directly back into the further development of the models.

The acquisition is effective as of 2023. From February 1, the premises in Lenzburg will also visually appear under the Thömus flag. Of course, bikes of all brands will continue to be repaired and serviced.

CONTACT:
Daniel Uebersax, CMO und COO Thömus AG
079 734 60 96 | [email protected]


ABOUT THÖMUS:
In 1991, the then 17-year-old Thomas Binggeli founded “Thömus Veloshop” on his parents’ farm in Oberried near Köniz (BE), where the headquarters are still located today. Since the step from bicycle dealer to bicycle developer in 1998, the company stands for bicycle high-tech from Switzerland. Cross country overall World Cup winner Alessandra Keller and Olympic medalist Mathias Flückiger have also been relying on this for several years. Whether gravel bike, racing bike, mountain bike or e-bike – all Thömus bikes have one thing in common: they are developed, designed and built here in Switzerland exactly according to the wishes and needs of the customers. This means that the shortest possible delivery times can be offered – completely “Swiss made to fascinate”.


ABOUT HARTMANN:
After about 40 years in the family business, 20 of them as owner and managing director, René Hartmann has decided to focus, together with his family, on the sports and health practice, which he has built up over the last 30 years in parallel with the bicycle business.

The world number 1 Alessandra Keller stays with Thömus maxon

Alessandra Keller from Nidwalden and the Swiss mountain bike team Thömus maxon have extended their cooperation for another two years, until 2024. This means that the double overall World Cup winner, Swiss champion and current world number 1 will be entering her eighth season in the team structure of the current Thömus maxon team next season.

The collaboration between Alessandra Keller and Ralph Näf began in 2016. After three difficult years marked by injuries, the absolute breakthrough to the top of the world followed this season. This is precisely why the 26-year-old Keller has decided to continue wearing the color red from Thömus maxon: “For me, consistency was the deciding factor. The consistency of working with a team and people who know exactly what I need. The team represents values and a philosophy that suit me. We have developed and professionalized a lot together in recent years, and I feel very comfortable at Thömus maxon,” says Alessandra Keller, summarizing her reasons for extending her contract.

Team owner Ralph Näf is also pleased that the shared history will continue to be written: “I am very happy about this contract extension. Alessandra is a very important person for our team, both as an athlete and as a person. For us as a pure Swiss team, with Swiss sponsors and partners, Swiss athletes, Swiss staff members, it’s great that we can attack next season strengthened in the international mountain bike circus.” The objectives for Alessandra Keller and her team are clear: “I want to continue to establish myself among the absolute world leaders and thus also win international titles.”

For Alessandra Keller, the current season is not over yet. Next Sunday she will compete in the final race of the Proffix Swiss Bike Cup in Gstaad. After that, the three-day road tour Tour de Romandie Féminin, from 7. to 9. October, on the program.

Sensational overall World Cup victory by Alessandra Keller

At the World Cup final in Val di Sole (Ita) Alessandra Keller (Thömus maxon) sensationally secures the victory in the overall MTB World Cup ranking with a sixth place! This means that the 26-year-old from Nidwalden has won the double together with the discipline ranking in short track, which she had already won on Friday! Keller is only the third Swiss woman to win the overall World Cup, along with Barbara Blatter and Jolanda Neff. In the men’s race, Vital Albin achieved another brilliant result at the end of the season with 9th place!

Interview with Alessandra Keller on SRF

Results XCO World Cup Val di Sole (Ita)