Thomas Litscher somewhat surprisingly rode his way to the podium at the World Championships at the end of last year. The former U23 World Champion was only beaten by Nino Schurter and Jaroslav Kulhavý.

You had to undergo a hip operation in spring. How did that come about and what did your everyday training look like as you made your way back?

I had been suffering complaints on a permanent basis for the last 4-5 years. It got to the point where I couldn’t go on any longer and had to go under the knife. I was on crutches for two weeks after the operation and took a break from training, although I already started daily therapy sessions in the second week to promote healing.

After 14 days, I climbed back on my bike and used the rehabilitation facilities in Magglingen for two weeks within the framework of a military refresher course. Under the constant supervision of physiotherapists and doctors, I was able to start training again very early on and focus on my comeback. 

I am therefore confident it will be a successful summer and autumn!

Despite ranking third at the World Championships, you had to search for your sponsors yourself last autumn. How do you deal with this situation and the pressure? What tips do you have in store for amateur athletes, who also have to struggle with nervousness before their race?

In principle, it is a short and foreseeable phase during which you can see about getting new sponsors. As soon as the new season kicks in, you need to focus entirely on your training and the races. I am also grateful for the support of my jb Brunex® Felt Team.

As a rule, you create your own pressure. Everyone can decide for themselves whether they want to have fun or put themselves under pressure. This year will also be a huge challenge for me due to my operation. But I have experience with injuries and I am used to the ups and downs. It is important that you always accept your actual condition and keep looking ahead. Bemoaning doesn’t help.

My tips for dealing with pressure and nervousness: trust in your own strengths and what was possible during training. Try to relax and don't get unsettled, for example, if your legs already feel heavy before the start.

In your eyes, what are the three most important factors that lead to success?

Self-discipline: everyone is responsible for themselves. Those who take a professional approach and make the best use of the time available, will be successful.
Team, equipment, environment: even though biking is an individual sport, you are dependent on a team and strong environment.
Attitude: those who face the challenges with a relaxed and positive attitude will perform at their best.
Quality not quantity: success comes from targeted training.

Many mountain bikers have registered for a race this year. What three tips do you have for the preparation and for the race?

Tips before the race:

• Make sure you are well rested when you go to the race
• Eat well and fill your reserves
• Check your equipment to make everything works well – this will give you confidence

Tips for the race:

• Concentrate on yourself (breathing, body)
• Trust in your own strengths and don't get unsettled if things don’t go smoothly in the short term
• Be as relaxed as possible, enjoy the race, and get the maximum out of it

Do you have a secret tip you would be willing to share with us? A training, nutrition, or recovery tip, for example.

There are a lot of wishy-washy products on the market. When it comes to a competition, you should make sure that you take a really good product such as Winforce with you and thus experience an improvement in your performance capability.

Foto: ZVG