Nathalie Schneitter is one of the most popular female bikers in Switzerland. One of Schneitter's season highlights is the cross-country competition during the Bikedays in Solothurn, where she can count on the full support of her fan club as a local heroine. The Lommiswil native has been riding bike races since 2000 and has been a member of the Swiss national team since the fall of 2001. Schneitter's main discipline remains cross-country and the eliminator sprint; her strengths are short, tough climbs and gritty downhills.

On the enduro podium
Schneitter wants to devote himself more to the downhill-oriented riding style in the 2013 season and expand his range of action in competition towards enduro. Schneitter gained his first enduro experience in 2011 at the Trail Trophy in Lenzerheide. Last season, Schneitter finished second at the Superenduro Monti della Tolfa and demonstrated her class at the top of the podium at the Superenduro in Pila.

New to Transalpes
Schneitter has brought a new supplier on board so that he doesn't have to get involved in the enduro action on the Colnago race hardtail. The Zwillikon-based bike manufacturer Transalpes tailors a "Transalpes BM 650B" fully for the versatile athlete. Transalpes is building a bike for Schneitter that rolls onto the starting line on 650b wheels, is equipped with Sram's XX1 gears and Kind Shocks LEV support and, with a total weight of 12.3 kilos, seems predestined for enduro competition.

No clear race calendar yet
However, it is still unclear which enduro competitions Schneitter will be taking part in this season, as his main focus remains on cross-country competitions. "I will probably switch to enduro in the fall after the World Cup finals. There simply isn't enough time before then," Schneitter tells Ride about his ambition in the booming racing discipline.

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