Christoph Sauser
Name: Christoph Sauser
Date Of Birth: 13th April 1976
Hometown: Sigriswil, Windigen, Switzerland
Nationality: Swiss
Nickname: Susi
Weight: 63-68 kg
Height: 181cm
Pulse Range: 36-185
Hobbies: Reading, travelling, mountains!
Other Sports: Skiing, Snowshoe walking, gym, running, swimming
What Specialized bikes do you ride and race aboard?
- S-Works Epic for racing
- S-Works Enduro for Freeriding
- S Works Roubaix for Road
- Allez for road training
What's your favorite food? Marroni, Fresh Bread, Pizza
Who are some of the most important and influential people in your life and career? My first Team Manager and friend (Parkpre) Bruno Diethelm, who looked so well after me for my 5 years of racing, and still does. Otherwise my familiy and all my friends who I share time with.
If you weren't a pro mountain biker, what would you be? Road Pro, Military Pilot or Fisherman :-)
Favorite Place to Ride? As long as I am on planet earth with mountains, and cool trails I am the happiest man!
What has been your best riding experience? Freeriding with backpack from hotels to hotels after the racing seasons. Ones we have rode a secret forbidden trail, which was so awesome! Even the cold beer in the evening was not half as good as that ride!
And the worst? On a long road trip to Italy I stopped the car near Brescia and went for a road ride. On the way back it got dark, and I did not find my car any more. It was freezing cold, had to ride in the rush hour without lights, and it took me for ever until I found the car again!
Where's your favourite place to travel? Switzerland, Cape Town, Colorado
What kind of music's on your iPod, cd player, whatever? Lunik (Swiss Band), Depeche Mode, Franz Ferdinand, Gorillaz, Robbie Williams I need a lot of varieties
What is the best part of racing? Crossing the finish line first, and seeing an excited team staff and fans!
What are your biggest strengths on the bike? Mental, technical courses, save energy for the end
Any advice to beginners? S-Works! So, don't buy the wrong bike from the start on!
What's your best idea of having good time? Being healthy, and independent in the mountains. Riding the whole day, cool single trails with friends and freeriders, and a very good dinner afterwards.
Why do you ride? I would not like to walk around the world...
What does your typical day consist of? I get up at around 07.15 eat a fruit and start to think what I could do today… No I normally plan my days ahead. After breakfast -which includes some kind of hot cereal with lots of black chocolate powder in it, and bread with almond butter, I have to sit behind the desk. This always takes too long, and then I am late for my training ride. Normally I ride between 2-3hrs. After lunch, if I have time I do a short nap or read the newspaper. In the afternoon there are always various things to do, or I do another easy ride with the guys who finished work. I eat dinner around 19.00 and go to bed 22.30.
In terms of training how much do you do? Around 15hrs per week. I am somebody who does not need much training. Or I don’t know in case I would do more, if I would be faster? But for me quality before quantity!
What determines your bike setup at races? Are there any specific methods of setup that you prefer? This really depends on the course. I like soft suspension setups, which smoothens out every little stone. But at some races where you have rocky up hills I ride a harder setup. Like this I have a little bit less sag, and I still have the travel required for smooth pedalling over the uphill rocky sections. With the Epic Travel System I can ride softer suspension setups compared to the setups that I have been used too. The entire system is very pedalling neutral, and there is no energy wasting, when riding in soft open mode, and you don’t feel a negative sag. Also, with the brain system everything works automatically, which allows me to be fully focussed on my pedalling and the other competitors!
Are you strict with your diet? Any there are diet plans that you follow? I try to stress my digestion system as little as possible. As a mountain biker or endurance athlete in general, you pump your body to the limit all the time. Like this it is important that you do not waste energy breaking down heavy food. Food combining, where you do not eat protein and carbohydrate in one meal together works very well for me.
You have been recently in South Africa for a tire testing session: do you like the new tire models? What about the new Sauserwind? We had the chance to test a new compound on fast track and sauserwind. this rubber is ultra fast, feels so smooth over bumps, better rolling and is lighter compare to all the old compounds we have raced. The sauserwind is an awesome all around tire. it performes in any conditions! i race it when a course is demanding and just starting to dry up. i also ride it on my stumjumper and enduro bike.
You are very perfectionist in the bike set up and you take a lot of care weighting any component of your bike. For example you often use road shoes even during mtb competition for their more stiffness and lightness. Are you going to do this choice even this season? On every race track? Yes i will keep on racing with the road shoe. but i can only do it as long as there are no long walking sections. it does not feel good to run on cleats and carbon only... the reason i race with it, is a weight issue. the road shoe is about 100gr. lighter and this is rotating weight!
Dou you ever trust your mechanic or there is a particular aspect of your bike that you want to check personally? I absolutely trust benno my mechanic since 6 years. we are like a marriage :-) he would work on my bike the whole night long, just for preparting me the best setup. i do all the adjustment on cockpit, brain shock, fork, tire pressure by myself. it has to match the course and my riding style.
Mtb and road bike: in what percentage do you use the two bikes during your training session? I have 2 identical bikes. one for training with very heavy wheels, and a race one. on top of that 3 road bikes. one normal, one with fenders and one with power cranks. then my fun bikes -stumpjumper and enduro- for freeriding
What kind of race track do you prefer? Muddy, rocky, with steep climbs, technical or fast descends..? As long as it is rideable and warm i like any course!
XC and Marathon World Championship between June and July and the Olympic game in August: a very busy race program for you, difficult in scheduling all the races. What do you think? No this is not difficult. it is easy to setup a good schedule around this races. it is always important that you have some good rests inbetween the important races, and then do a good build up again with training and racing.
The World’s race track and the Olympic one are quite different: hard and technical the first and very fast, like a cyclocross race, the second one.
You tested the Olympic race last year: do you like it? Who can be your strongest opponent? And for the World Championship? I love the olympic course! and it is not a cyclocross race! i would have no chance to race it with a cyclocross bike though. there are very steeep climbs, grippy sandy soil and the downhills provide a lots of cool sharp cornering. it will be a lot about the conditions: heat, smog and humidity will be the big factor players!
sure julien absalon will be my strongest opponent
Career Highlights:
- Olympic Bronze Medallist Sydney 2000
- World Marathon Champion 2007
- European Marathon Champion 2007
- World Cup Champion Overall 2004 + 2005
- 10 Times World Cup Winner
- Vice Word Cup Champion 2005
- 5 Times Swiss Champion
- 3rd World Championships Vail 2001
- European Champion U23 1998
- Vice World Champion U23 1998
Detailed Career Results:
2007
01. World Marathon Championships, Belgium
01. European Marathon Championships
02. Champery World Cup, Switzerland
03. Houffalize World Cup, Belgium
2006
01. World Cup, Mt St Anne, Canada
01. World Cup, Schladming, Austria
01. The Cape Epic, Western Province, South Africa
01. Roc D’Azur 01. Swiss National Championships
02. World Cup Overall 02. World Championships, Rotorua, New Zealand
2005
World Cup Overall Champion
01. World Cup Willingen, GER
01. World Cup Mont St. Anne, CAN
01. World Cup Angel Fire, USA
01. World Cup Fort William, GB
01. Roc d'Azur, Fr
01. IXS-Cup, Eiger Bike Challenge, CH
01. IXS-Cup, Estavayer, CH
01. Swisspower Hasliberg, CH
02. World Championships Livigno, It
02. World Cup Houffalize, Bel
02. Cape Epic Overall, RSA
03. World Cup Madrid, SP
04. World Cup Spa, Bel
05. European Championships Kluisbergen, Bel
2004
World Cup Overall Champion
Swisspower Cup Champion
01. World Cup Mont St. Anne, CAN
01. World Cup Calgary, CAN
01. World Cup Fort William, GB
01. O-Tour, CH 01. Garda Festival, IT
02. World Cup Livigno, IT
02. World Cup Houffalize, Bel
05. World Cup Madrid, SP
08. World Cup Schladming, AUT
11. World Championships Les Gets, F
DNF Olympics Athens (broken chain)
2003
01. World Cup St.Wendel, GER
01. Swiss Championships Küblis, CH
01. European Cup Hasliberg, CH
02. World Cup Overall
02. World Cup Mont St. Anne, CAN
02. Swiss Cup Overall
04. World Cup Fort William, GB
04. World Cup Kaprun, AUT
06. World Cup Vancouver, CAN
14. World Championships Lugano, CH
2002
01. World Cup Houffalize, B
01. 360° Sports Festival Telluride
01. Swiss Championships Gossau, CH
02. World Cup Overall
02. World Cup Vancouver, CAN
02. World Cup Les Gets, F
03 Swiss Cup Wins and Second Overall
05. European Championships Zürich, CH
07. World Cup Madrid, E
2001
01. World Cup Vancouver, CAN
01. Swiss Championships Einsiedeln, CH
01. European Cup Sigriswil, CH
02. World Cup Leysin, CH
03. World Championships Vail, USA
07. World Cup Mont St. Anne, CAN
11. World Cup Houffalize, B
13. World Cup Sarentino, I
16. World Cup Nappa, USA
17. World Cup Kaprun, AUT
dnf.World Cup Durango, USA
2000
01. Swiss Cup La-Chaux-de-Fonds, CH
01. Swiss Cup Leukerbad, CH
01. Norba Mt. Snow, USA
01. Swiss Championships Gränichen, CH
02. World Cup Mont St. Anne, CAN
02. World Championships Team Relais Sierra Nevada, SP
03. Olympic Games Sydney, AU
04. World Cup Sarentino, I
05. World Cup Overall
07. World Cup Lausanne, CH
08. World Cup St. Wendel, GER
09. World Cup Canmore, CAN
10. World Cup Houffalize, B
13. World Cup Mazatlan, MEX
23. World Cup Nappa, USA
1999
01. Swiss Championships Wil
01. World Cup Big Bear, USA
02. World Cup Plymouth, GB
03. World Cup Overall
04. World Cup St. Wendel, GER
04. World Cup Canmore, CAN
04. World Cup Sydney, AUS
08. World Cup Napa, USA
10. World Championships Are, S
13. World Cup San Lorenzo, SP
22. World Cup Houffalize, B
1998
01. U23 European Championships U23 Aywaille, B
02. U23 World Championships Mont St. Anne, CAN
02. U23 Swiss Championships Zürich
03. World Cup Plymouth, GB
09. World Cup Overall
1997
01. U23 Swiss Championships Buttes
01. Elite Swiss Cup Overall
05. U23 European Championships Silkeborg, DK
06. U23 World Championships Chateau d?Oex, CH
1996
01. U23 Swiss Championships Moutier
02. Elite Downhill Swiss Cup Overall
03. Elite Downhill Swiss Championships Aegeri
06. U23 World Championships Cairns, AUS
11. U23 European Championships Bassano del Grappa, I
1995
01. Elite Downhill Swiss Cup Overall
17. Elite Downhill European Championships Spinlermühle, CZ
43. Elite Downhill World Championships Kirchzarten, GER
1994
01. Junior Downhill Swiss Championships Villars
03. Junior Cross Country Swiss Championships, Geneva
10. Junior Downhill World Championships Vail, USA
13. Junior Cross Country World Championships Vail, USA
1993
06. Junior Downhill Swiss Championships-Series
