Thomas Litscher announces his retirement after 15 years in the elite of mountain biking

Coinciding with the surprise announcement of Nino Schurter, Swiss cyclist Thomas Litscher has confirmed that he will end his professional career at the end of this season, thus closing a trajectory of more than 15 years in the elite of mountain biking and a successful previous passage through the junior and under-23 categories.

Thomas Litscher also steps down from mountain biking

The announcement comes in a particularly complex year for the 35-year-old rider. At the beginning of the season, he was left without a team at the last minute, after the structure he had signed with dissolved just before the start of the calendar. Faced with uncertainty, Litscher even launched a crowdfunding campaign to finance himself and stay in competition. Finally, he found stability by signing with the Cabtech Racing Team, with which he has competed in this farewell season.

In a statement, the Swiss highlighted what this sport has meant in his life: “As in every stage, there were highs and lows, but I have always valued this path and consider it a privilege to have turned my passion into a profession. I have been fortunate to meet incredible people, live thousands of unforgettable moments, and represent different teams in the elite of the World Cup. In addition, being able to bring home 21 medals for Switzerland in European and World Championships is something that I will always carry with me”.

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The calendar is not over for him yet. This weekend he will compete in his last participation in the Swiss Bike Cup in Muttenz, before facing his last two World Cup races in Les Gets and Lenzerheide on September 21, where he will put an end to his sports career.

Although he is closing this chapter, Litscher assures that he faces the future with enthusiasm: “This winter marks the beginning of a new chapter in my life that will require the same values as in sports: discipline, perseverance, constant improvement, and the ambition to always get better. I am excited for what is to come, although I will never forget mountain biking. I will also be happy to take on new challenges within the world of sports in the future”.