Christoph Sauser (born 13 April 1976 in Sigriswil, Switzerland) [1] is a cross-country mountain biker who won the bronze medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. He currently races on the Specialized Cross Country Team.

Christoph Sauser
Christoph Sauser in the World Champion's kit
Personal information
Full nameChristoph Sauser
Born (1976-04-13) 13 April 1976 (age 48)
Sigriswil, Switzerland
Team information
DisciplineMountain bike
RoleRider
Rider typeCross-country, marathon
Major wins
  • UCI World Cup, Cross Country:
    (2004, 2005)
  • Yellow zebra jersey Absa Cape Epic Champion:
    (2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015)
Medal record
Representing  Switzerland
Men's mountain bike racing
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2000 Sydney Cross-country
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2008 Val di Sole Cross Country
Silver medal – second place 2005 Livigno Cross Country
Silver medal – second place 2006 Rotorua Cross Country
Bronze medal – third place 2001 Vail Cross Country
Men's Mountain bike marathon
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2007 Verviers Marathon
Gold medal – first place 2011 Montello Marathon
Silver medal – second place 2008 Niederdorf Marathon
Silver medal – second place 2015 Selva di Val Gardena Marathon
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Graz/Stattegg Marathon
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Pietermaritzburg Marathon
Christoph Sauser, leading teammate Todd Wells early in the Elite Men's Short Track race at the 2009 Sea Otter Classic in Laguna Seca, CA.

He was the overall winner of the UCI World Cup in 2004 and 2005, along with taking 2nd in 2002 and 2003, with a 3rd place in 2001. He has won a total of 10 World Cups.

In 2006 Sauser won his first Absa Cape Epic with partner Silvio Bundi. He then partnered up with Burry Stander winning back to back in 2011 and 2012.[2] Sauser partnered up with Jaroslav Kulhavý in 2013, once again claiming 1st in the marathon stage race. At the 2015 Absa Cape Epic Sauser rode himself in the race's history books by becoming the first person to win it a landmark five times, after which he retired from professional racing. In March 2017 Sauser came out of retirement in a bid to win his sixth Absa Cape Epic. In spite of being in good form he and partner Jaroslav Kulhavý (Investec Songo Specialized) finished second to Nino Schurter and Matthias Stirnemann (Scott-Sram). The Sauser/Kulhavy combination was hampered by punctures at critical times.

He won first place in the 2008 Mountain Bike World Championships, came second in the 2005 edition, and third in 2001. He has been Swiss champion four times. In his early years of racing he started in both XC and DH races. He is one of the top mountain bikers in the last few years.

Major results edit

1999
1st   Cross-country, National Championships
3rd Overall UCI XCO World Cup
1st Big Bear Lake
2nd Plymouth
2000
1st   Cross-country, National Championships
3rd   Cross-country, Olympic Games
2001
1st   Cross-country, National Championships
3rd   Cross-country, UCI World Championships
5th Overall UCI XCO World Cup
1st Grouse Mountain
2nd Leysin
2002
1st   Cross-country, National Championships
2nd Overall UCI XCO World Cup
1st Houffalize
2nd Les Gets
2nd Grouse Mountain
2003
1st   Cross-country, National Championships
2nd Overall UCI XCO World Cup
1st Sankt Wendel
2nd Mont-Sainte-Anne
2nd Grouse Mountain
2004
1st   Overall UCI XCO World Cup
1st Fort William
2nd Mont-Sainte-Anne
2nd Livigno
2nd Calgary
2nd Houffalize
2005
1st   Overall UCI XCO World Cup
1st Willingen
1st Angel Fire
1st Mont-Sainte-Anne
2nd Houffalize
2nd Fort William
3rd Madrid
2nd   Cross-country, UCI World Championships
2006
National Championships
1st   Cross-country
1st   Marathon
2nd   Cross-country, UCI World Championships
2nd   Cross-country, UEC European Championships
2nd Overall UCI XCO World Cup
1st Mont-Sainte-Anne
1st Schladming
2nd Madrid
2007
1st   Marathon, UCI World Championships
1st   Marathon, UEC European Championships
3rd Overall UCI XCO World Cup
2nd Maribor
2nd Champéry
3rd Houffalize
2008
1st   Cross-country, UCI World Championships
2nd   Marathon, UCI World Championships
2nd   Cross-country, UEC European Championships
2nd Overall UCI XCO World Cup
1st Vallnord
1st Schladming
2nd Offenburg
3rd Fort William
3rd Houffalize
2009
3rd   Marathon, UCI World Championships
2011
1st   Marathon, UCI World Championships
UCI XCO World Cup
3rd Windham
2012
1st   Marathon, National Championships
2013
1st   Marathon, UCI World Championships
1st   Marathon, National Championships
2nd   Marathon, UEC European Championships
2014
1st   Marathon, UEC European Championships
3rd   Marathon, UCI World Championships
2015
2nd   Marathon, UCI World Championships

References edit

  1. ^ Christoph Sauser, Cyclingnews.com.
  2. ^ Sauserwind Archived 2013-06-20 at the Wayback Machine

External links edit