caption fullname updated proteam birth_place weight majorwins height discipline birth_date nickname proyears role image article_title name currentteam
frischknecht in 1996 thomas frischknecht january 17 , 2007 ritchey swisspower feldbach , switzerland 69 kg lb on world world mtb cross country champion -lrb- 1996 -rrb- mtb marathon champion -lrb- 2003 , 2005 -rrb- 1.76 m ftin on mtb 17 february 1970 frischi 1990-2000 2001 - rider thomas frischknecht 1996.jpg thomas frischknecht
 thomas frischknecht swisspower
thomas frischknecht

thomas frischknecht -lrb- born february 17 , 1970 in feldbach , switzerland -rrb- is a former swiss mountain bike and cyclo-cross racer , often called europe 's `` elder statesman '' of mountain biking , because of his extraordinarily long career at the top level of the sport .
a professional since 1990 , he was on top of the mountain bike world championship podium for the first time in 1996 and most recently in 2004 .
