In recent years, Stöckli has concentrated on the marathon discipline in mountain bike racing and has been able to celebrate great successes. In the coming season, the Lucerne-based bike and ski manufacturer will focus on long-distance mass sports and mark its presence with around 100 athletes from the "Stöckli 29er Team" and provide them with professional support on site at the most important marathons.

In an interview with Ride back in spring, Stöckli CEO Beni Stöckli announced that he wanted to have a say in international top-class sport in the future - just as they do in the Ski World Cup. By signing Mathias Flückiger, they are taking a big step forward in this strategy. Flückiger won the bronze medal at this year's World Championships behind Nino Schurter and his brother Lukas. The man from Oberaargau had his most successful season to date in 2010, when he became world champion and overall World Cup winner in the U23 category and was also among the front runners in the elite competition.

This means that the two brothers Mathias and Lukas Flückiger are definitely parting ways. According to well-informed sources, Lukas Flückiger is also set to become the figurehead of a Swiss bike manufacturer next season. Detailed and official information is forthcoming.