Iten is still the only mountain biker to have ever managed to win an international title in both cross-country and downhill in the same year. The Zug native won the European Championships in both disciplines in 1992. After his retirement, Iten remained loyal to mountain biking in his private life, but was no longer present in racing. His appointment as national coach marks the return of one of the world's best-known mountain bikers to the race tracks.