Less than three weeks before the election, the outcome seemed clear. The Swiss Cycling single judge excluded Marisa Reich, a board member for five years, from the election and also banned her from the association's board. The reason: she is not a member of a Swiss cycling club, as required by the statutes. The article leaves little room for interpretation, even if details such as the deadline or the exact definition of membership are not specified. What was disturbing was that Marisa Reich had been elected to the board in 2021 despite this shortcoming. And because she had gradually emerged as a critic of the Swiss Cycling management in the months leading up to the election, the expulsion left a bad taste in the mouth. The reasoning given by the appeals court is also noteworthy: it states that Marisa Reich fulfills the requirements for election as president of Swiss Cycling in accordance with the statutes. No explanation was given as to how this court came to the opposite conclusion to that of the single judge on the same article. Along with Marisa Reich, Ariane Previtali may also resume her seat on the board, to which she was elected in 2025. And Andrew Thomas is now approved as vice president after all, if the delegates elect him to this position. Swiss Cycling has the option of appealing this decision before the International Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne. The association has published the appeal court's decision on its website without comment. Whether this means that the association's management accepts it will become clear in the coming days.

Is the management choosing its own supervisory body? 

What is certain is that the situation within the association continues to simmer. Ride has since learned from two sources that the management is campaigning for Marisa Reich's opponent, Luana Bergamin. This gives the impression that the association's operational leadership wants to put together its own supervisory body. This is now also to the disadvantage of Reich's opponent. A vice president of a cycling club who will be attending the delegates' meeting told Ride: "Luana Bergamin is actually the more suitable candidate than Marisa Reich. But since she is obviously the management's candidate, she is no longer eligible for election in our club."

At the center of the criticism of the management is CEO Thomas Peter. He has been polarizing opinion for years with his work, his priorities, and, time and again, his personnel decisions. In recent weeks, various media outlets have gathered opinions about the head of Swiss cycling. These range from admiration for his work ethic, his assertiveness, and the successful financial restructuring of the association to accusations that he has turned Swiss Cycling into his personal kingdom. 

When the delegates cast their votes for one of the two candidates in Bern on Saturday, many will also be voting on Thomas Peter, even though he is an employee and not up for election. After everything that has happened, some assume that if Marisa Reich becomes president, CEO Thomas Peter will be dismissed, at least according to the NZZ. 

What is being overlooked here is that this is the first time in the association's 142-year history that a woman has been elected to the top position. However, what she can achieve also depends on a powerful man.