The Swiss Cycling delegation won six medals and five diplomas at last summer's Olympic Games in Tokyo. The result is exceptional, and there is nothing comparable in modern Swiss summer sport. Swiss Cycling Managing Director Thomas Peter is well aware that the results of the Games in Japan will be hard to beat. However, the analysis of the Tokyo campaign has revealed potential for optimization, adds Peter. In this context, there was a restructuring at the beginning of the year, with Edi Telser (Head Coach), Beat Müller (Head of Performance) and Patrick Müller (Head of Sports) now sharing responsibility for performance sport. "We need to position ourselves more broadly so that we can maintain our level. At the same time, we offer our athletes more contacts, which reduces the risk of any abuse of power," says Peter. And: "Our medium-term goal is to systematize success."

Beat Müller explained how this goal is to be achieved at the kick-off event for the new Olympic cycle at partner BMW Group Switzerland in Dielsdorf. In abstract terms, it is a three-phase model, the sports scientist explained. If the first phase is about recognizing the potential of athletes for cycling, the second phase is about training them on a broad basis, from which profiles of strengths and weaknesses can be created. In the third phase, the focus is on targeted training in the discipline best suited to the profile of the respective athlete, as well as specific preparation for the major event. Müller mentioned Marlen Reusser as a prime example. The lateral entrant won her first World Championship medal after three years of specific training and her first Olympic medal a year later.

Patrick Müller - the former professional has taken on the role of coordinator - spoke about the growth of Swiss Cycling, the short Olympic cycle due to the postponed Tokyo Games and the associated challenges. Edi Telser, in turn, commented on the prospects in the individual disciplines with regard to Paris 2024, which, on balance, could be considered at least as good as they were two years before Tokyo 2020. The historic triple victory of Jolanda Neff, Sina Frei and Linda Indergand is likely to remain unique - also because the UCI has slightly reduced the number of quota places. As a result, a maximum of two athletes per nation will be eligible to compete in the Olympic mountain bike competitions in Paris.

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