Mathias Flueckiger

How does FOX contribute to your success?
By providing lightweight, reliable, and technologically advanced equipment.

Tell us about your bike/vehicle setup.
I like to have a fairly responsive setup.

What else is in your garage?
My Ford Focus.

What's your training regimen?
I get up at 5:45 a.m., and start work at 6:30 p.m. I finish work at 3:30 p.m. and then I go training, for 3 to 5 hours. It is often less than freezing and with rain or snow, very beautiful! Most top pro riders go to warmer climates for training but for me it's not possible now with work and study. Then perhaps around 8 p.m. the day is still not over. Now I have to do 2 hours of study for exams. Then maybe around 10:30 p.m. I must quickly go to bed and get up again at 5:45 in the morning and the whole game starts again!

Any major injuries, and how did you recover?
Nothing comes to mind.

What's your typical pre-race/event meal? Guilty pleasure?
I watch my food very carefully in race week, but if I have one guilty pleasure it's Raclette (original Swiss food!).

How do you determine which races or events to enter each year?
I decide this with my coach and team, to reach my goals.

What motivated you to get started professionally?
I was nine years old, and my brother rode a mountain bike already, so then I wanted to try it but I didn't have fun at first, but I pushed on until I had fun :)

What separates you from other professional athletes?
Not sure, maybe my determination, and my good power to weight ratio.

What would you be doing if you weren't a professional athlete?
I would be a mechanic for excavators or maybe a farmer.

What's the best thing about being a professional athlete?
The tactics of the race, the training, being able to eat a lot in training. Also the tension before the race starts, the race itself, and the success.

What other sports are you interested in?
Freeriding and skiing.

Any advice to the readers dreaming to turn pro?
No matter what sport you do, have a dream and make that your goal.

What are your favorite magazines and websites?
Mainly Swiss publications like 20 Minuten (a newspaper), and also cyclingnews.com.

Favorite movie quote?
Nothing comes to mind.

Who is your hero?
I don't really have heroes but I do look up to my older brother.

Are you a Mac or PC? PC

Top 3 bands Swiss music you don't know!

Greatest strength Power climbing

Most frustrating challenge Sprinting