It was a nice Christmas present for Ralph Näf: last week, he was able to seal his sponsorship with the Thömus brand for another two years, laying the foundations for a more peaceful future for his successful racing team. However, the continuation of the partnership with Thömus is not a matter of course. The brand from Oberried near Bern stepped in provisionally a year ago because Näf was unable to find a bike sponsor following the withdrawal of Radon. At the time, it was company founder and CEO Thömu Binggeli in particular who did not let his friend Ralph Näf down in this situation.

Help in times of need proved to be a stroke of luck for Binggeli. The makeshift solution turned into a World Cup victory for Mathias Flückiger and a world championship title for Alessandra Keller. Binggeli's decision could be described as shrewd. He seized the right moment and made a bargain out of an emergency. But that is too short-sighted. Thömu's entry into Ralph Näf's team is more in keeping with the company's long history. Thömu Binggeli founded the "Thömus Racing Team" in 1993. Some of the biggest names in Swiss racing started out as juniors in his colors. He has enabled drivers to enter professional life after their time as racing drivers. And now, last year, Thömus bikes suddenly found themselves at the top of the winners' podium in international racing. This is actually nothing more than the logical development of a 25-year commitment. It's not so much clever as simply consistent.

It cannot be denied that over the last thirty years, Thömu Binggeli's shrewdness has also made him what he is today: a small bike store on a farm. However, Binggeli has shaped the sport not with his slide rule, but with his heart. Joining Ralph Näf's team as a sponsor was an act of conviction. The conviction that Swiss racing needs a team like this. The conviction that a talent like Ralph Näf must not be lost to racing. The conviction that top riders like Mathias Flückiger, Kathrin Stirnemann or Alessandra Keller should not end up "on the road" without a team.

The fact that Thömu Binggeli has now extended his commitment to the Ralph Näf Racing Team by two years is to his credit. It is a further statement that the sport is close to his heart. However, the decision to continue the sponsorship is now based on calculation. As a partner of a racing team of this size, potential and professionalism, the sponsorship will ultimately be reflected in the Thömus stores' tills. Fortunately and rightly so. And who knows, perhaps Thömu Binggeli's commitment will culminate in an Olympic title in Tokyo 2020. It would be a great thing for him. Him, who has had such a strong influence on the sport of mountain biking with his heart.